Live News - A Survival Guide - International Federation of Journalists

Live News — A Survival Guide for Journalistsscious), then apply a cervical collarfrom your first aid kit. Thiswill prevent the neck from tiltingor moving. If you do not have acervical collar fold a broadsheet(large-format) newspaper longwaysinto half and half again,and fit it around the neck.Where there are open fracturesto major limbs, decide whetherto immobilise them as they are,or to pull them into shape first. Alimb with the fracture should beelevated to prevent excessiveblood pressure. Use bandages totie upper limbs (arms and shoulders)in a sling. If you do not havea triangular bandage to hold anarm across the chest, tear onefrom a shirt.A splint keeps the leg immobileto prevent a fracture doingfurther damage. The splint mustextend beyond the joint aboveand below the injured limb. Ifthe break is in the lower leg, thesplint should extend from thefoot to the calf. If the break is inthe upper leg, extend the splintfrom below the knee to above thehip. A comprehensive first aid kitcontains ‘fracstraps’ or ‘Samsplints’,flexible splints that canbe shaped to the limb and tied soas to create an immobile support.However, a splint can be improvisedfrom a broomstick, cameratripod or anything that will keepthe limb rigid. Pad it to make itmore comfortable and use beltsor clothing to tie it into position.Fracstraps can be shaped into asplint. If you do not have a fracstrap,improvise a splint from a broomstickor a camera tripod.Photos: Rob JudgesA cervical collar (above) will protectthe neck from tilting or moving.Many medical kits contain a purposemade collar (left). If not, make a cervicalcollar using a broadsheet newspaper(below).81