Every parent should know basic fracture first aid. Kids are active people, and injuries can happen during play. Bone fractures of the wrists, arms and lower legs are particularly common in growing children. Here are the symptoms to look for and what to do.

Is It Broken?
A fracture is a broken bone. A simple fracture is a broken bone. Kids will commonly suffer green stick fractures, which are partially broken bones or bent bones, as opposed to complete fractures, where the bone is broken into two pieces.

A compound fracture is a broken bone that protrudes through the skin. These are easy to spot by the damage they leave behind, although the bone may retract beneath the wound.

Fractures are extremely painful. They may cause dizziness or shock, depending on the severity of the break. They are much more painful than sprains, and your child may have reduced mobility in the limb or an inability to put pressure on the limb.

The area around a fracture will usually swell up quickly. You may be able to feel the break by wrapping your hands around the affected area. Don’t use too much pressure, as this could be painful or worsen the injury. Broken arms or legs may look misshapen. If both bones in an arm or leg are broken, the child will be unable to move his hand or foot.

Fingers and Toes
“Broken” fingers and toes are often dislocations or severe sprains between the bones. These may not swell in the same way that broken bones do, but the child will lose mobility and suffer extreme pain in the injured digit.

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