Slings

Used to support or lift up (elevate) arm after injury to arm or shoulder. Also for elevation to decrease bleeding and swelling

Attention

• Support injured arm throughout procedure
• When tying sling around neck
• Use reef knot so knot lies flat
• Knot to one side just above collar bone so no pressure on neck
• 5 minutes after putting on sling, check it hasn’t come loose, stretched, dropped down, changed position
• If you don’t have proper sling — use whatever you can find
• Can use towels, sheets, bandages, etc, but watch for stretching
• Check circulation and sensation — after putting on sling check hands/fingers for colour, warmth, sensation, movement, capillary refill, peripheral pulses 
  
• If any not normal — take off sling

Simple sling

What you need

• Triangular bandage
• Safety pin or tape

What you do

• Open out bandage and put under injured arm, pointed edge near elbow and long edge at middle of fingers so tips visible — Figure 10.21
• Tie ends of sling together at neck on same side as injured arm
• Hand slightly higher than elbow — Figure 10.22
• Bring point of bandage around elbow and pin/tape down

Collar and cuff sling

What you need

• Triangular bandage

What you do

• Fold pointed edge of triangular bandage to long edge 3 times to make narrow bandage
• Make clove hitch (figure of 8) with 2 large loops, ends of bandage in the middle, one end pointing up and the other end pointing down — Figure 10.23
• Slide forearm of injured arm through loops with ends to the front — Figure 10.24
• Lift lower end up across the front of bandage, bring both ends up around person's neck
• Tie bandage on either side of neck, for best support or comfort
• Hand close to opposite shoulder — Figure 10.25

Elevation sling

What you need

• Triangular bandage
• Safety pin or tape

What you do

• Bend elbow on injured side so fingers point to opposite shoulder — Figure 10.26
• Lay triangular bandage over arm with pointed edge (B) near elbow and hand covered — Figure 10.26
• Bring lower long end (C) under arm — Figure 10.27 then around to uninjured shoulder
• Gently wrap long edge around injured arm and twist top end (A) around fingers — Figure 10.27
• Tie ends (A and C) together on uninjured side — Figure 10.28
• Fold point (B) and any loose fabric along injured arm under sling — Figure 10.28
• Safety pin/tape securely at elbow