StarterOn a half sheet of paper, write your name at

the top and answer the following questions.What does immobilization mean?Have you ever had an injury immobilized?What types of injuries require immobilization?

Even if you do not know the answer, try and think through each question.

SplintingStandard 7 Objective 4: Discuss

immobilization techniques.

Objective 4: Discuss immobilization techniques.

PowerPoint lecture and guided notesWhat do we immobilize?Why do we immobilize?How do we immobilize?

Explanation and demonstration of different methods of immobilization/splinting.What items can we use to immobilize?

Splinting Lab

What do we immobilize?

• Sometimes it is difficult to tell whether an injury is a fracture, dislocation, sprain, or strain.• We should immobilize any injury that has a deformity. • If the athlete has severe pain with any range of motion, they should be immobilized.

Why do we immobilize?You cannot always be sure which injury an

athlete may have sustained.If there is a fracture or dislocation, the

structures are not stable. They need to be stabilized!

Stabilize only if the athlete needs to be moved. (Almost 100% will need to be moved eventually.)

How do we immobilize?The basic principles are:

1. Splint only if you can do it without causing more pain and discomfort to the victim.

2. Splint an injury in the position you find it.3. Apply the splint so that it immobilizes the

fractured bone as well as the joints above and below the fracture.

4. Check the circulation distal to the injury before and after splinting.

5. If at all possible, do not move the athlete until they have been splinted.

How do we immobilize?Shoulder injuries should be immobilized

with a sling and swathe bandage, with the upper limb bound to the body securely.

Head, Neck, or Back InjuriesWhat signs and symptoms would lead you to immobilize an athlete with a cervical collar and back board?

• Unconsciousness• Numbness or tingling in extremities• Neck or back pain on the spine• Mechanism of injury

1. Activate EMS2. Do NOT move athlete3. If athlete is wearing a

helmet, do NOT remove it.

4. Instruct athlete to stay as still as possible and instruct not to move.

5. When EMS arrives, they will apply a cervical collar and transport athlete on a backboard.

Maintain in-line stabilizationa.Place hands on both sides of the victims’

head.b.Hold the athletes’ head in-line with the

spine, if severely angled hold and maintain in the position you found it.

c.Support this position until EMS personnel arrive.

d.Maintain airway and breathing.

Different Methods of ImmobilizationVacuum SplintsTraction SplintsSAM SplintRigid SplintSoft SplintAnatomical Splint

Splinting LabRead the directions on the worksheet.You will need a few ace wraps (grab different

sizes, but make sure to share).You also need to grab a SAM splint.Move the desks out of your way. Push them

against the back wall.Splint away!

Splinting Lab

Please pair up into groups of 4