Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. 6th ed. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This cloth band goes over the sling and across your chest or abdomen to prevent you from lifting your arm. You might need to wear a sling after a stroke or if you have an elbow or shoulder fracture. After an injury to your shoulder, elbow, or wrist, you might need to wear a sling on your arm to protect it while healing. (If you don't have a safety pin, twirl the point until the arm is snug, then make a knot.). For example, if your left arm is injured, the near side of the cloth will go over your right shoulder. Wrap it in a towel and apply it to the swollen area for about 10 minutes every 4 to 6 hours. Always care for wounds and apply a splint, if needed, before attempting to fit a sling. The only exceptions to this rule are rare, special cases: when you will not be able to secure immediate medical treatment, and setting a compound fracture by hand is preferable to the alternative of doing nothing at all. A sheet or pillowcase can be used instead of a square of cloth. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Use a collar and cuff sling for a suspected fracture of the collarbone or elbow when a triangular sling is not available. Some diseases make bones break more easily. But you might struggle to complete some steps without help, depending on the severity of your injury. If your injury is minor, your doctor may allow you to remove the sling and bathe freely. Arm slings are commonly used to immobilize, support and protect the arm or shoulder following an injury to the shoulder, upper arm, forearm or wrist. Lean on the arm or put any weight on it. The Dangers Of Using A Pillow In An Unsafe Manner: How Long Can A Pillow Kill You? The sling is designed to limit your shoulder mobility. Read on to learn some practical tips for coping with your sling. Have the patient support their injured arm so the forearm is roughly level. Third Party materials included herein protected under copyright law. Adjust the positioning and length of your makeshift sling so that your arm hangs at a 90 degree angle. Loosen or adjust the bandage if the persons skin becomes cool, turns pale or blue, or if the patient complains of numbness or tingling. It's important to use it correctly. Washington University Physicians. Apply a bandage over the wound. If youve injured your arm and you can't immediately access medical care, you may opt to make your own arm sling at home. The point of the sling on the elbow of a toddler can be securely secured with paper tape or safety pins. The arm sling should be comfortable for the child, and should provide support for their arm while it heals. In: Roberts JR, Custalow CB, Thomsen TW, eds. New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, The Blavatnik Family Chelsea Medical Center, Heart - Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Mount Sinai Center for Asian Equity and Professional Development, Preparing for Surgery and Major Procedures, The area becomes cool or turns pale or blue, Numbness or tingling develops in the injured body part, Find a piece of cloth that is about 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide at the base and at least 3 feet (1 meter) long on the sides. If you do anything mentioned not to, you will surely hurt your arm even more. Pull the dangling portion of the triangle up to meet the end at the shoulder. Move your unaffected joints on the surgical . For more severe injuries and surgery, wearing shirts that open in front will be easiest. This video has been medically reviewed by Oluseun Olufade, MD. Klimke A, Furin M, Overberger R. Prehospital immobilization. In short, you have a fashionable and effective sling that you can use to support an injured arm. If the fingers turn pale or too red, adjust the sling or the bandage. Luckily, this is easy to do and can help keep your arm still until you're able to see a doctor. Reviewed by: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Our posts may contain affiliate links and we may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to the buyer for products purchased through the links on our site or other applicable pages. It should keep your shoulder, elbow, and wrist in a relaxed position so you can go about your day-to-day life. While wearing your sling, move your fingers and wrist several times a day to prevent stiffness. Some shoulder problems (for example) "frozen shoulder" will be made much worse by using a sling. Bring the other end of the bandage over the other shoulder, cradling the arm. Here's an easy way to make an arm sling: See How to Prevent Muscle Cramps and Strains for more detailed information on slings, immobilization techniques, and combination bandages/slings to use on different body parts. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Try to keep your arm elevated for the first few days after the injury. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/Make-a-Sling-for-Your-Arm-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Sling-for-Your-Arm-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/Make-a-Sling-for-Your-Arm-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid843627-v4-728px-Make-a-Sling-for-Your-Arm-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"