If you or someone you know suffers an arm injury and help isn’t immediately available, then you need to know how to make an arm sling. Whether you’re dealing with a broken bone or a dislocation, knowing what to do and how to make it properly can keep the injury stable until you can get the victim to professional help.
What Materials to Use
Whether you’re at home or out hiking in the wilderness, you’ll have the materials to make a sling all around you. While a triangular bandage is traditional and recommended, if you don’t have access to one or your first aid kit, there are plenty of other supplies you can use.
When making your own improvised sling, the best thing you can have is a square piece of cloth that you can fold into a triangle; about one metre long on each side. Cotton bedsheets, large scarves, a long-sleeved shirt or jacket, or even a pillowcase work well, so long as the fabric is strong enough to support your arm comfortably without stretching too much.
Safety pins are incredibly useful for securing the ends of the bandage together, but twisting the fabric and tucking it in also works if pins aren’t available. A belt, tie, or piece of rope can also help keep everything in position.
For situations where you need an immediate makeshift sling, even a sturdy shopping bag or backpack strap can provide temporary first aid arm support until you can create something more secure.
How to Make An Arm Sling
Now that you know the materials, we can go over the steps for how to make an arm sling:
Start by asking the injured person to hold their injured arm across their chest with their free hand. Their elbow should be bent at a right angle with their fingertips pointed slightly upward to help with circulation and reduce swelling.
Take your triangular bandage or material and slide it underneath their injured arm.
Position the point of the triangle which is opposite the long edge of the bandage underneath the elbow of the injured arm, while the longest side itself should run vertically from the shoulder down toward their opposite hip.
Bring the lower end of the bandage up over their forearm and across their chest to the other side of their body. Tie the two ends of the bandage together in a knot at the back of the neck.
Finally, use a safety pin to fasten the bandage. You can also twist the fabric behind the elbow and tuck it forward to secure their arm in place.
If you need to make an arm sling using a shirt or jacket, slip the injured arm inside the garment while the person wears it. Pull the hem up to shoulder height and secure it with a pin or tie it to the collar on the same side.
First Aid Advice: What To Do Next
Once you’ve successfully made your DIY arm sling, you’ll need to take some important follow up steps. While a sling is a great way to stabilise an injury at the scene it doesn’t replace proper medical care.
First, make sure that the person wearing the sling knows to avoid moving their injured arm unnecessarily. The entire reason for wearing a sling is to keep the arm still and supported as movement can displace broken bones or worsen soft tissue damage.
Next, regularly check the circulation of the injured arm. Gently press on a fingernail until it turns white, then release. The colour should return within two seconds. If the fingers remain pale, feel cold, or look blue, adjust the sling immediately as it is too tight.
While checking circulation, also be on the look out for increased pain, swelling, or numbness, and if any of these appear seek medical help as soon as possible; if you need to make an emergency arm sling you should be seeking help ASAP regardless.
Learn to Make and Use a Sling
Now that you know how to make an arm sling, the best thing that you can do is to learn how to do it right. And the best way for you to practice and learn how to make an arm sling is with hands-on first aid training.
By enrolling in a first aid training course you’ll not only learn how to make an arm sling, you’ll learn the skills and knowledge to treat the injuries which require a sling in the first place, like when bones break, fracture, or dislocate, among a wide range of other useful, life-saving skills. If you should ever find yourself in a situation where you need to make a homemade arm sling, you’ll want the rest of this knowledge too. By taking first aid training you’ll have the complete picture of what you’ll need to do, meaning you’ll truly be able to help.
FAQs
What Type of Sling Should I Use for an Elbow Injury?
An elbow injury should be treated the same as an arm injury; with a triangular bandage support that keeps the joint at a 90-degree angle.
What is an Elevation Sling?
An elevation sling is a type of triangular bandage sling that holds the injured arm in a more vertical position against the chest, with the fingertips reaching up to touch the opposite shoulder. This elevated positioning helps reduce swelling and improve drainage, making it useful for hand injuries, finger injuries, or situations where bleeding needs to be controlled.
How Do I Make a Shoulder Sling?
An arm sling for shoulder injuries follows the same basic technique as a sling for your arm or elbow. Supporting the arm at the elbow takes the weight of the arm off the shoulder, keeping it immobile.
