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An arm sling serves the purpose of immobilizing and protecting an injured arm. While it is typically used for fractures, it is also helpful in cases of bruising, sprains, dislocations, or in emergencies where a serious injury is suspected. Regardless of the injury type, an arm sling is often essential during recovery as it not only supports the arm but also signals to others that the arm requires special care. Knowing how to make an emergency arm sling is a valuable first aid skill, as it can protect and comfort the victim while waiting for medical assistance.
Steps
Use a piece of cloth to make an arm sling
Find a square piece of cloth of appropriate size. This method uses a square fabric to mimic the function of a specialized arm sling. The exact size of the cloth may vary depending on your height and body size. For most people, a 1-meter square cloth is ideal. It is best to use non-stretchable fabric, as stretchy fabric will not effectively immobilize the arm and may cause further injury.
- A quick way to get a 1-meter square piece of fabric is to cut an old pillowcase or unused bed sheet with scissors or a knife. In urgent situations, you can even tear the fabric by hand to the desired size.
- When making an arm sling, it is better to use a piece of fabric that is too large than too small. You can adjust a larger sling by tying a knot behind the neck when wearing it, but there is no way to loosen a sling if the fabric is too small.
Fold the fabric diagonally to form a triangle. Take the square piece of fabric and fold it diagonally to create a triangle shape. When the arm is in the sling, the broad part of the triangle will support the arm, while the pointed corners of the triangle will form the ‘collar’ behind the neck.
- If, for any reason, you find the folded sling uncomfortable, you can cut the fabric diagonally to achieve a similar shape.
Clean and bandage any wounds before applying the arm sling. When wearing an arm sling, your injured arm will constantly be in contact with the fabric, which may not be sterile if made at home. Therefore, it is crucial to clean, dry, and carefully bandage any open wounds before touching the fabric. Here's a basic guide to cleaning minor wounds – read How to Care for Minor Scrapes for further information. If you have a severe injury or notice bones protruding, do not attempt to make the sling yourself – seek immediate medical attention.
- First, wash the wound with water that is not too hot or too cold. Run the water gently, avoiding high pressure. Failing to follow these guidelines may cause further harm to your arm.
- If necessary, use clean tweezers to remove dirt or debris that can’t be rinsed off with water.
- Cover the wound with a bandage, ensuring the adhesive doesn’t touch the wound itself. If needed, apply a clean gauze pad over the wound before bandaging it.
- You may also need a splint. In such cases, apply the splint before putting on the sling.
- Do not touch the wound directly unless you have medical expertise.
Remove any jewelry from the injured arm. Next, remove all rings, bracelets, and wristbands from the injured arm. If swelling occurs during the recovery process, jewelry—especially tight-fitting pieces—can obstruct blood flow, causing pain and discomfort, and may even become stuck.
Thread one end of the fabric under the injured arm, the other over the shoulder. Position your injured arm at a 90-degree angle in front of your chest (parallel to the floor). Use your other hand to thread the triangular fabric over the shoulder of the injured arm. Let the remaining fabric fall behind the injured arm, with the ‘tip’ of the triangle pointing toward the hip of the injured side.
Pull the other end of the sling over the opposite shoulder. Using your uninjured arm, take the corner of the fabric pointing downward and pull it across the body, over the opposite shoulder, and toward the back of the neck. Be gentle, as the fabric now touches the injured arm, and pulling too forcefully may cause pain. The sling should be long enough to support the injured arm comfortably at a 90-degree angle.
- Adjust so that the fingers of the injured hand extend just enough outside the fabric’s edge, allowing you to perform basic tasks like writing while keeping the hand supported within the sling.
Tie the ends of the fabric at the back of the neck. Once you’ve adjusted the length of the sling, tie both ends with a simple knot at the back of your neck to secure it. If you need to adjust the height of the sling, you can untie the knot and re-tie it to make the fabric ‘higher’ or ‘lower’. Congratulations! You've successfully made your arm sling.
- If the knot presses on your neck and causes discomfort, place a cushion or cloth under it for added comfort.
- Be sure to avoid getting hair caught in the knot. If you accidentally tie your hair in, it may pull and cause pain every time you move your arm or walk.
If desired, you can use a safety pin to close the edges of the arm sling. If you have a safety pin, pin the edges of the fabric together near the elbow area. This will create a ‘stopper’ for your elbow. Without this stopper, your arm may slide backward during movement or cause the fabric to bunch up at the wrist.
Maintain proper posture while wearing the arm sling. The sling will shift the weight of your injured arm to your upper back and neck. This added weight can strain your back and shoulders—though you may not feel tense at first, over time you might experience discomfort between your shoulder blades. You can reduce this impact by maintaining an upright and proper posture. Here's a brief posture guide:
- Standing posture with the arm sling: Keep your back straight, shoulders slightly pulled back but relaxed. Lift your chin and avoid slouching.
- Sitting posture with the arm sling: Sit back in the chair if it has a backrest. Keep your back straight and upright. Lift your head and chin so that your neck remains straight. Place your feet flat on the ground. Avoid slumping or hanging your body. You may rest your arm on the chair's armrest if it’s comfortable.
- If you experience severe back or neck pain while wearing the sling, consult a doctor. Avoid using the arm sling if you have pre-existing neck or shoulder conditions.
Adapt clothing into an arm sling
An improvised arm sling is, of course, not as good as a specialized one. Compared to self-made slings, modern products are much better in terms of comfort, effectiveness, and protective function. However, arm injuries can occur unexpectedly, requiring you to adapt to the situation. If you happen to get injured while camping in the wilderness, you may not have fabric on hand to make a sling as described above. At least it's better than nothing.
Use a long-sleeved shirt to create an arm sling. You can use any long-sleeve shirt, such as a sweater, hoodie, or dress shirt. Tie the sleeves behind your neck and carefully slide the injured arm through the loop you've created. Adjust the fabric so that it supports the arm from anywhere between the shoulder and wrist, in the position that feels most comfortable.
- Try adjusting the sleeve length so that when tied, your arm hangs at a 90-degree angle (parallel to the ground).
- If you have a safety pin, you can pin the fabric near the elbow to create a ‘stopper’ for the sling as described in the previous method.
Use a belt as an arm sling. A belt makes a great makeshift arm sling due to its ability to be adjusted into a loop. Place the buckle at the back of your neck and slide your arm through the belt loop. Position the weight of the arm along the forearm or wrist. Secure the buckle behind your neck to hold your arm at a 90-degree angle.
- The buckle behind your neck may cause discomfort, so adjust the belt so the buckle rests somewhere between your arm and neck. You can also place a cushion between the belt and your neck for added comfort.
Use a tie as an arm sling. If you happen to get injured while at the office or dressed formally, a tie can quickly be transformed into a temporary arm sling. As with the previous methods, simply tie the tie behind your neck and slide the injured arm through the loop. Adjust the position and length of the sling so your arm hangs at a 90-degree angle.
Use fabric tape. Fabric tape can be incredibly useful in immobilizing your arm. Due to its durability, flexibility, and fabric-like texture, fabric tape is well-suited for this purpose.
- A loop made from fabric tape can replace a belt or tie to support the wrist, arm, and elbow.
- Use fabric tape to secure the injured arm to your torso to minimize movement.
- Avoid letting the adhesive side touch your skin. The sticky side of the fabric tape should face inward to prevent it from sticking to your skin.
Seek medical attention (and/or a proper arm sling) immediately. The need to improvise an arm sling with clothing usually arises when medical care is not immediately accessible. If you sustain a severe or prolonged injury, you must consult a healthcare professional as soon as possible. A makeshift arm sling is better than none, but it does not replace a proper arm sling (not to mention the other treatments that only a hospital can provide). Better safe than sorry—don't risk worsening your injury by not seeing a doctor.
Handling Severe Cases
Seek medical care if you have a broken bone or dislocated joint. A homemade arm sling might be a good option for a minor injury, but it’s insufficient for treating fractures or dislocations. You need to see a doctor to assess the injury, get an X-ray, and discuss a treatment plan. The treatment prescribed by the doctor may involve wearing a proper arm sling, but you may also require a cast or surgery. Using a makeshift sling to immobilize a broken bone or dislocated arm could lead to poor healing, discomfort, and longer recovery times.
- Common symptoms of a broken arm include:
- Severe pain
- Throbbing
- Swelling
- Loss of movement or sensation
- Possibly an open wound with bone protruding
- A visibly deformed arm compared to the uninjured side
- Common symptoms of a dislocated shoulder (the most common dislocation) include:
- Pain in the arm, shoulder, and/or collarbone
- Visible deformity (a bulge near or above the shoulder)
- Swelling
- Bruising
Go straight to the emergency room if you see bone through the wound. When a broken bone protrudes through the skin or is visible in the wound, it is called an “open fracture.” These fractures cause severe pain, are dangerous, and require immediate treatment. Keep in mind that the trauma causing an open fracture may also lead to other injuries. The most important thing is to get treatment promptly and properly.
- Do not attempt to realign the broken bones without the help of a trained medical professional. The exception to this rule occurs in rare, special cases: when you cannot access medical care, and realigning the bones by hand is better than doing nothing.
Only attempt to realign the bones if there is a risk of losing the limb. You should only attempt to realign broken bones if there are signs of poor circulation. Again, if possible, wait for the doctor to realign the bones. The exception is when a broken bone is obstructing blood flow to the limb. You can tell if the limb isn't receiving blood if the area below the fracture becomes pale, blue, lacks a pulse, or feels numb and cold. In such cases, the risk of losing the limb is greater than the dangers of improperly realigning the bones.
- In this situation, read the article “How to Realign a Broken Bone” for more information.
Advice
- To secure the arm sling, you can use a long strip of cloth wrapped around the sling, covering the injured arm, but below the uninjured arm, and fasten it with safety pins. This prevents the arm from moving when you walk or shift positions.
- If you don’t have a complete arm sling or it’s not recommended, you can make a simple sling that only supports the wrist and elbow.
- Another option: Use a piece of fabric, scarf, leggings, tights (anything you have available) and loop it under the wrist and over the neck, mimicking a full-size arm sling.
- If the arm and shoulder don’t improve, even with support (using the arm sling), you should consult a doctor.
- Try to reduce swelling by applying ice or a bag of frozen peas to the injured area before it worsens. Don’t apply ice directly to the skin to avoid causing further damage. Instead, place a towel between your skin and the ice pack.
- A hoodie can also serve as an arm sling, just like long-sleeve shirts. Tie the hoodless end together with safety pins and wrap the hood around to cushion the hand!
Warning
- If you suspect that your arm, wrist, or elbow is broken, seek medical attention immediately.
- Certain shoulder issues, such as frozen shoulder, can worsen with an arm sling. If the pain doesn’t subside after a day, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
- For vulnerable individuals and the elderly, an arm sling may exacerbate neck problems.
What You’ll Need
- A piece of fabric or a bedsheet/pillowcase with a 1-meter square edge
- Safety pins
- Soft padding (optional)
