Australian quick reference
Fractures, sprains and dislocations
How to protect an injured limb until medical care is available.
The short answer
Stop the activity and support the injured area in the position found. Do not straighten a deformed limb or push a dislocation back. Call 000 for an open fracture, heavy bleeding, severe trauma, unbearable pain, spinal concerns or pale, blue, cold, numb or immobile fingers or toes. Check circulation and feeling beyond the injury.
Support in the position found
Choose the safest limb response
It can be difficult to tell a fracture, dislocation and sprain apart. Support the injury, check beyond it and call 000 for circulation, nerve, bleeding or serious-trauma red flags.
| What you find | Do next |
|---|---|
| Open fracture, heavy bleeding or severe trauma | Call 000, control bleeding around the injury without pushing bone back, and support the limb in the position found. |
| Pale, blue, cold, numb or immobile fingers or toes | Call 000. Check circulation and feeling beyond the injury, loosen harmful tightness and keep the limb supported. |
| Deformity, dislocation or unbearable pain | Call 000 or seek urgent medical help. Do not straighten the limb, test movement or push a joint back into place. |
| Possible fracture with intact skin | Support above and below with padding or a splint if safe, use a wrapped cold pack for swelling and arrange medical assessment. |
| Likely sprain or strain without red flags | Rest, use a wrapped cold pack, apply firm but not tight compression and elevate while resting. Seek medical advice if unsure or not improving. |
Four things to remember
See the next decision
These visual cues are a memory aid. In a real emergency, call Triple Zero (000) and follow the call-taker's instructions.
Stop the activity, make the scene safe and support the injured area in the position found. Keep the person comfortable and avoid unnecessary movement.
A fracture may cause severe pain, swelling, bruising, deformity or inability to use the limb.
Do not straighten a deformed limb or push a dislocation back into place.
Call 000 for severe trauma, an open fracture or bone through the skin, heavy bleeding, severe or unbearable pain, deformity, spinal concerns, or pale, blue, cold, numb or immobile fingers or toes.
Illustrated field notes
See the situation, then choose the next safe action
These original illustrations support recall. They are not a substitute for the written steps, a current first-aid course or the Triple Zero (000) call-taker.
Visual memory cue
See the pattern before you practise
Use this simple visual reminder alongside the written steps. In a real emergency, call Triple Zero (000) and follow the call-taker's instructions.
- 01Stop and supportKeep the limb in the position found.
- 02Check beyondColour, warmth, feeling and movement.
- 03Protect swellingCold pack, padding and safe compression.
- 04Arrange help000 for severe trauma or circulation changes.
01
What to do first
- Stop the activity, make the scene safe and support the injured area in the position found. Keep the person comfortable and avoid unnecessary movement.
- Call 000 for severe trauma, an open fracture, heavy bleeding, a deformed limb or joint, unbearable pain, spinal concerns or pale, blue, cold, numb or immobile skin beyond the injury.
- For a suspected fracture or dislocation, pad and support above and below the injury with a splint or cushions if this can be done without forcing the limb straight or causing more pain. Do not push a joint back into place.
- For a likely sprain or strain without emergency signs, rest the area, use a wrapped cold pack, apply a firm but not tight compression bandage and elevate it while resting. Remove rings or tight items early if swelling is expected and it is safe.
- Check colour, warmth, feeling, movement and swelling beyond the injury before and after support. Arrange medical assessment when a fracture, dislocation or significant sprain is possible, or when symptoms are not improving.
02
What to avoid
- Do not straighten a deformed limb or push a dislocation back into place.
- Do not place ice directly on skin or make a compression bandage so tight that fingers or toes become cold, pale, blue, numb or more painful.
- Do not test how far the limb or joint moves, massage a new injury or apply heat when swelling is developing.
- Do not delay 000 for severe trauma, heavy bleeding, loss of feeling or loss of circulation.
03
When to call 000
- Call 000 for severe trauma, an open fracture or bone through the skin, heavy bleeding, severe or unbearable pain, deformity, spinal concerns, or pale, blue, cold, numb or immobile fingers or toes.
04
What to monitor
- Keep checking pain, swelling, colour, warmth, feeling and movement beyond the injury. If support or compression makes the hand or foot colder, paler, bluer, numb or more painful, loosen it and seek urgent help.
Recognition cues
What you may notice
- A fracture may cause severe pain, swelling, bruising, deformity or inability to use the limb.
- Numbness, pale or blue skin, coldness or loss of movement can signal a serious circulation or nerve problem beyond the injury.
- A dislocation may look out of place and should not be pushed back; a sprain can look similar to a fracture.
Avoid these traps
Common mistakes
- Straightening a deformed limb or testing how far it can move.
- Pushing a dislocation back into place.
- Putting ice directly on the skin or making a compression bandage too tight.
- Delaying help for numb, pale, blue or cold fingers or toes.
Children need medical assessment for suspected fractures because growth areas can be affected. Support the limb in the position found, do not rely on a child being able to walk, and seek urgent help for severe pain, deformity, numbness or poor colour.
When help is on the way
Keep the handover useful
- Support the injury in the position found, remove tight jewellery early if safe and recheck colour, warmth, feeling and movement beyond the injury.
- Tell responders how the injury happened, whether the skin is broken and what changed after support or bandaging.
Common questions
Quick answers
Should I straighten a broken limb?
No. Support it in the position found and wait for medical advice or emergency help.
How can I tell a sprain from a fracture?
You may not be able to tell safely. Pain, swelling, bruising and difficulty using the area can occur with both, so arrange medical assessment when a fracture or dislocation is possible.
When should I call 000?
Call 000 for severe trauma, open fracture, heavy bleeding, deformity, spinal concerns, unbearable pain, or pale, blue, cold, numb or immobile skin beyond the injury.
What should I check after applying a bandage?
Check colour, warmth, feeling, movement and swelling beyond the injury. The bandage must not make the hand or foot colder, paler, bluer, numb or more painful.
Should I straighten a broken limb?
No. Support it in the position found and wait for medical advice or emergency help.
When should I call 000?
Call 000 for severe trauma, open fracture, deformity, heavy bleeding, numbness, pale or blue skin, spinal concerns or unbearable pain.
Added injury decision tree, position-found support, sprain/fracture uncertainty, limb circulation and sensation checks and child boundaries against current Australian guidance.