Navy Skills for Life – First Aid Training – Sprained Ankle

America's Navy

17 Mar 201501:17

Summary

TLDRThis guide covers how to properly wrap a sprained ankle. First, avoid moving the ankle too much and be mindful of swelling. If wearing a boot that supports the ankle, leave it in place but ensure it's tight. If not, remove the shoe. Using an elastic bandage, start wrapping above the ankle to create an anchor. Control the bandage as you wrap from top to bottom, then return to the top. Secure the excess material and check for proper blood flow by pressing the nail bed to ensure pinkness returns. This ensures a safe and effective wrap.

Takeaways

🦶 Avoid moving the ankle too much to prevent further injury.
⚠️ Swelling is expected, so be mindful when handling the injured area.
👢 If the shoe or boot supports the ankle and goes above it, leave it on tightly.
❗ Don't apply too much pressure to the injured ankle.
👟 If no supporting boot is available, carefully remove the shoe.
🩹 Use an elastic bandage to wrap the foot, starting above the ankle to create an anchor.
🔄 Control the bandage tightly to prevent it from becoming too loose.
⬇️ Wrap the bandage from the top of the ankle down to the foot, then back up.
📏 Tuck the remaining bandage material under the last strip for a secure finish.
💉 After wrapping, check for blood flow by pressing the nail bed and ensuring color returns to the toe.

Q & A

What should be the first step when dealing with a sprained ankle?
-The first step is to avoid moving the ankle too much and observe for swelling.
What should you do if the person is wearing a boot that goes above the ankle?
-If there is a boot above the ankle, you should leave it in place and ensure it’s tight, but not too tight to restrict blood flow.
When is it appropriate to remove the shoe from the injured foot?
-If the person is not wearing a boot, you can go ahead and remove the shoe carefully.
How should you begin wrapping the foot with an elastic bandage?
-Start wrapping above the ankle to create an anchor point for the bandage.
Why is it important to control the tension of the bandage while wrapping?
-Maintaining control ensures the bandage doesn’t become too loose, providing proper support without cutting off circulation.
What direction should you wrap the bandage around the foot?
-You should wrap the bandage starting at the top of the foot and work your way down to the bottom.
What should you do with the excess material after wrapping the foot?
-Use the excess material to wrap back up towards the ankle, tucking it under the last strip of bandage for a secure fit.
How can you check for proper blood flow after wrapping the ankle?
-Press down on the nail bed of the foot and ensure that the pink color returns, indicating good blood flow.
What could happen if the bandage is wrapped too tightly?
-Wrapping the bandage too tightly can restrict blood flow, which can lead to complications.
What are the signs that the ankle wrap was applied correctly?
-The bandage should be snug but not too tight, secure without excess movement, and blood flow should be normal as indicated by the pink color returning after pressing on the nail bed.

Outlines

00:00

🦶 How to Address a Sprained Ankle

This paragraph provides a step-by-step guide on how to manage a sprained ankle. It emphasizes avoiding unnecessary movement and details the process of securing the ankle with or without footwear. The key steps include using an elastic bandage to wrap the foot, ensuring that the bandage is kept tight and controlled. The process starts at the ankle to anchor the wrap and proceeds downwards towards the foot. Once the foot is fully wrapped, the remaining bandage is tucked neatly. The final important step is to check for proper blood flow by pressing on the nail bed and observing if the pink color returns to ensure circulation is not restricted.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Sprained Ankle

A sprained ankle refers to an injury where the ligaments of the ankle are stretched or torn due to a sudden twist or impact. In the video, this is the focus of the discussion, with steps provided on how to manage and wrap the ankle for better support and healing.

💡Swelling

Swelling is the body’s natural response to injury, characterized by an increase in fluid in the tissues around the injured area. The video mentions that swelling will occur around the ankle, and it's essential to minimize movement to prevent worsening the condition.

💡Boot

The boot in this context refers to any type of footwear that provides support to the ankle, especially after an injury. The video suggests keeping the boot on if it supports the ankle to prevent additional movement or strain.

💡Elastic Bandage

An elastic bandage is a stretchable, wrap-like material used to provide support to injured areas, in this case, a sprained ankle. The video explains how to use an elastic bandage to wrap the ankle, starting from above the ankle to secure it properly.

💡Anchor

An anchor refers to the initial point where the elastic bandage is secured around the ankle to provide stability. The video instructs starting above the ankle to create the anchor before wrapping the rest of the foot.

💡Control

Control in this context refers to maintaining tension and firmness while wrapping the ankle to ensure that the bandage does not become loose. The video emphasizes keeping control of the bandage during the wrapping process.

💡Blood Flow

Blood flow refers to the circulation of blood to the injured foot, which needs to be monitored to ensure that the bandage is not too tight. The video suggests checking blood flow by pressing on the nail bed to ensure the pink color returns, indicating proper circulation.

💡Nail Bed

The nail bed is the skin underneath the nails of the toes, used in the video as a point of reference for checking blood flow. By pressing on the nail bed, one can check if the color returns, which signifies adequate circulation after wrapping the ankle.

💡Pressure

Pressure refers to the force applied on the injured ankle. The video advises against putting too much pressure on the ankle, whether through walking or bandaging, to prevent further injury or discomfort.

💡Tuck

Tucking involves folding the remaining part of the bandage under the last strip after wrapping the ankle. The video demonstrates this as a way to secure the bandage, ensuring it stays in place without unraveling.

Highlights

Initial assessment: Try not to move the ankle too much due to swelling.

If the person is wearing a boot above the ankle, leave it on and ensure it's tight.

Avoid putting too much pressure on the sprained ankle.

If there is no boot, remove the shoe carefully.

Begin wrapping with an elastic bandage starting above the ankle to create an anchor.

Keep control of the bandage while wrapping to prevent it from becoming too loose.

Wrap the bandage down the foot from top to bottom.

Use any excess bandage to wrap back up towards the top of the foot.

Tuck the remaining bandage material under the last strip.

Check for proper blood flow by pressing on the nail bed and ensuring the pink color returns.

Monitoring blood flow is crucial after bandaging the foot.

Use elastic bandages to stabilize the injury effectively.

Ensure the bandage is not too tight, as it may restrict circulation.

The wrapping process secures the ankle and supports healing.

Always check the person's comfort and pain levels during treatment.