How To Treat Hand Injuries With Basic First Aid
Regardless of if you’re male or female, your hands (and wrists) are one of the most fragile parts of your anatomy. Among people under the age of 75, hand injuries, including wrist fractures, are the most common type of, fracture with finger fractures close on its heels. However, there is a bit of good news (if you’re a “glass-half-full” type of person)…
Hand injuries are very seldom life-threatening and can be treated on the spot until medical assistance is acquired. Below, you’ll find some of the most common hand-related injuries that bikers experience, and the standard first aid that can be administered for each.
**Before you read any further, please use common sense, if your symptoms increase in severity seek medical attention immediately!**
Mild Hand Injuries – Hand Sprain
The most common types of hand injuries are thumb sprains and wrist sprains, although finger sprains can occur if you go down hard. A sprain is a partial tear in the ligaments that connect bone to bone. The sprain can range from mild to moderate to severe.
Common Causes
What the most common cause of thumb and wrist sprains in the human hand is falling with outstretched arms. In our case, it would involve falling from our bike and trying to break our fall with our hands. Don’t do that. There is a right and wrong way to fall, but that’s covered in a different article.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a sprain can include any, or all, of the following:
- Pain in the affected area.
- Swelling in the affected area.
- Bruising in and around the affected area.
- Deformity of the appendage (i.e., a finger that appears dislocated).
First Aid Treatment
- Apply ice to reduce the amount of swelling.
- Elevate the hand above the heart level to further reduce swelling.
- Take an OTC pain reliever or anti-inflammatory.
- If the finger is dislocated or deformed, do NOT try to straighten it out.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Severe Hand Injuries – Fractures And Breaks
Hand fractures/brakes are labeled as a crack or break in the bones of the hand (and wrist). While breaks in the hand are not generally considered life-threatening, they can potentially cause major damage if not properly treated. Never take lightly a potential fracture of the hand, finger, or wrist. Treat it just as serious as any other fracture.
Common Cause
Just like with sprains, the motorcycle rider’s leading cause of fractured and broken hands and wrists breaking a fall with outstretched arms.
Symptoms
Symptoms for hand fractures are similar to sprains with a couple of differences:
- Severe pain in the affected area.
- Severe swelling and bruising in the affected area.
- Issues with moving the corresponding appendage.
- Numbness or tingling feeling in the affected area.
- Deformity in the affected area.
Hand Injury First Aid Treatment
- If there is any bleeding, place a clean, sterile pad or cloth over the wound to help control it.
- Apply ice to the affected area, and leave it there. This will help reduce pain and swelling.
- If the person is wearing any jewelry on the affected area, remove it immediately. Massive swelling can occur, and jewelry can cut off circulation to the area.
- If possible, elevate the affected area above the heart level to aid in reducing swelling.
- Stabilize the hand and move it as little as possible.
- Seek out medical assistance immediately.
Hand Injuries will affect every aspect of your life if not treated correctly!
If you have any questions or anything to add, please leave them in the comments or on our FaceBook page!
Keep Reading – Bone Fractures And Breaks
