Quick Sling: Immobilize With a Scarf or a Sweatshirt

In pairs, students learn to support an injured arm with a triangular-bandage sling and then improvise one with a sweatshirt. They practice the basic rule: immobilize it as it is, never try to straighten the bone.

How to play

1. Explanation: when to use a sling (a hard hit to the wrist, forearm or collarbone) and what not to do: pull on the arm or try to reposition it (3 min).
2. Demo and practice with a triangular bandage: the injured partner holds the arm against the chest, the helper slides the bandage under and ties it at the side of the neck (6 min).
3. Check: fingers stick out, have good color and the partner can feel them; switch roles (3 min).
4. Improvise with a sweatshirt: tuck the hand into the front pocket, or fold the hem up and secure it as a pouch (5 min).
5. Final pair challenge: a correct triangular-bandage sling in under a minute, without causing pain (3 min).

Rules

• Work slowly: the 'injured arm' moves no more than necessary.
• The knot never sits on the back of the neck or on a sore collarbone.
• Fingers always stay visible to check circulation.
• The challenge is about quality: a bad sling doesn't count.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with visual impairments: learn the knot with hand-over-hand guidance and check fingers by touch.
• Limited arm mobility: play the injured partner and talk the helper through each step.
• Students uncomfortable with contact: practice first on a doll or on their own arm.

Learning goals

• Apply a sling correctly.
• Improvise immobilization with clothing.
• Check hand circulation after immobilizing.

Equipment for a class of 25

• triangular bandages: 15
• sweatshirts: 15
• stopwatch: 1

Teacher tip

Triangular bandages from first aid kits are cheap; if you have none, large cloth scarves folded into a triangle work. Common mistake: leaving the wrist lower than the elbow; the hand should sit slightly raised.

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