Sprains and strains are common injuries, but they require a certain level of fitness to treat. If you're not sure how serious your injury is or if it's severe enough to warrant medical attention, check out these first aid techniques below:
When to Seek Medical Help
If you think you may have broken a bone, seek medical help immediately. If your joint has been dislocated, treat the injury as if it were broken until you have seen a doctor.
If your pain is severe or does not go away after several days of rest and ice application, see a physician immediately. You should also see a doctor if:
- The swelling does not go down after a few days
- Your skin turns black-and-blue (indicating blood pooling under the skin) or red (indicating inflammation)
- You hear a snap or pop during the injury
- The injured area feels warm to touch; this could indicate an infection developing within the joint itself
Treating the Injury
Sprains and strains are common injuries that can be treated at home. If you suspect that you have a sprain or strain, follow these steps:
- Rest. Stop any activity that caused your pain and seek medical help if it does not go away after several days.
- Ice the injury for 20 minutes every two hours for 24 hours after injuring yourself, then switch to heat if needed (see below). Do not apply ice directly to the skin; use an ice pack or towel between your skin and the cold compress.* Compression bandages can help reduce swelling around sprains and strains by decreasing blood flow through swollen tissues.* Elevate the injured limb above heart level when sitting or lying down as much as possible during treatment.
RICE
RICE is a method of first aid used to treat sprains and strains. It stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
Rest: Resting the injured area will help it heal faster by giving it time to rest from activity that causes pain or discomfort.
Ice: Applying ice to your injury reduces swelling and pain caused by inflammation. You can use an ice pack or towel soaked in water that has been frozen overnight; however, do not apply heat directly after applying ice because this may cause further damage to already inflamed tissue!
Compression: Compressing an injured area helps reduce swelling as well as any pain felt when moving around due to increased blood flow through surrounding tissues following injury (this increases blood flow and speeds up healing!). Compression wraps are available at most pharmacies with instructions printed right on them so anyone can easily follow along without having any prior knowledge about how much pressure should be applied during each stage of treatment - just make sure they're snug enough so they don't slip off while still being comfortable enough not too tight where they'll cause pain once applied properly!
Elevation: Elevating an injured limb above heart level helps reduce swelling quicker than keeping everything flat against your body; however if possible bring it down closer towards itself so there isn't too much pressure exerted onto any one part of the affected region within 24 hours after the impact occurred since doing so could cause more harm than good depending upon severity level reached before seeking medical attention."
Compression
Compression is used to reduce swelling and pain. Apply a compression bandage to the area, or use an ice pack or cold cloth for 20 minutes at a time. Compression should not be used on open wounds because it will cause more harm than good.
Ice Packs
Ice packs are a great way to help prevent swelling, reduce pain and inflammation, and hasten recovery time for sprains and strains.
- Use an ice pack or bag of frozen vegetables on the injured area for 15 minutes at a time. Remove it for 10 minutes before reapplying the cold compress. Do not apply ice directly to your skin--use a towel between you and your injury when using an ice pack so that there is no direct contact with your skin! This will help prevent frostbite (which could permanently damage tissue).
- Don't use heat on any type of injury like this one--heating pads can cause further damage if used incorrectly! So stick with just cold compresses instead!
A first aid kit can help you treat sprains and strains.
A first aid kit can help you treat sprains and strains. First aid kits are readily available at drug stores, so it's a good idea to have one on hand at home or work. They're small and portable, making them easy to carry around with you if necessary.
First aid kits include bandages in various sizes as well as gauze pads and tape for wrapping injuries; antiseptic wipes or creams; pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), which can help reduce swelling; cold packs that can be placed over an injured area to reduce swelling; scissors for cutting tape off the skin safely while avoiding injury to yourself during this process; tweezers for removing splinters or ticks from people who are allergic to them; safety pins if there is no medical professional nearby who can sew up ripped clothing after an accident occurs--these items will keep your friends safe until proper care arrives on scene!
The first step in any emergency situation is always contacting local authorities before trying anything else because they'll know best what kind of help needs providing based on where exactly you are located."
Conclusion
Sprains and strains are common injuries that can be treated at home with the help of a first aid kit and some basic knowledge about how to treat sprains and strains. The most important thing is to not delay treatment as this will only make things worse. The sooner you start treating your injury, the better off you will be in the long run!