First aid: sprains
Rest, ice, wrap, raise.
Call 911 if
- The limb looks bent or out of place
- It's numb, cold or turning blue
What to do
- Rest it. Don't walk on it if it hurts.
- Ice for 15 to 20 minutes with a cloth between the cold pack and skin.
- Wrap with an elastic bandage, snug but not tight. Toes or fingers should stay pink.
- Raise it above the heart when you can.
See a doctor or urgent care if
- They can't put weight on it or take 4 steps
- Pain is right over the bone
- Swelling is severe or it isn't better in 2 days
In every Nurse in a Box kit: instant cold packs, an elastic bandage and a triangular bandage for a sling, with a registered nurse a tap away if you're not sure what to do.
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General first aid information based on guidance from the American Red Cross, Mayo Clinic, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC. It isn't medical advice and doesn't replace care from a nurse or doctor.