First Aid: How to Make a Makeshift Splint

It’s important to note that before making a splint, you should provide care for any wound in the area that needs the splint, including cleansing and bandaging the wounds. You’ll also want to keep the wounded portion of the body immobile, especially if the injury is in the neck or back. To avoid injury or further pain, don’t try to put broken bones back together; instead, splint the bones together in the position you found them. Use clothing or other soft materials to pad the wound.

Making the Splint

Find a rigid object to use as an emergency splint — boards, branches or sticks are generally easiest to find. You can use pretty much anything as long as it’s rigid and doesn’t bend. You can also secure a broken finger to another finger if needed in the case of a broken finger.

You’ll need to make sure the splint is longer than the length of the area that’s injured and pad the pressure points.

Finally, secure the emergency splint using anything available that will work — tape, belts, neckties, clothing, or other strap — both above and below the injury.

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