First Aid & Emergencies

Does your arm look twisted, bent out of shape, or out of its normal position?

Do you have a cut, scrape, or puncture wound on your arm and think you may have broken or dislocated the bone under it?

Did your arm pop, move, or get pulled out of its normal position and then return to its normal position?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Has your arm become very swollen within 30 minutes after the injury?

Does your arm look twisted, bent, or out of its normal position?

Are you unable to move your arm normally?

Did you feel or hear a snap or pop when you injured your arm, but your arm looks, feels, and moves normally?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Does your arm look pale, white, or blue, or feel cold below the injured area?

Do your fingers or hand look pale, white, or blue, or feel cold after having a brace, cast, or splint applied? Note: See care for a cast or splint.

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have new numbness or tingling and the skin on the injured arm looks more pale, white, or blue, or feels colder than your other arm?

Are you unable to move your arm normally (not because a splint is in the way or because of pain)?

Have you had steady numbness or tingling in your arm or hand, without other symptoms, for 1 hour or longer?

Is numbness or tingling getting worse?

Have you had numbness or tingling that comes and goes for 24 hours or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Are you unable to move your arm?

Do you have severe pain?

Are you unable to move your arm normally after having a brace, cast, or splint applied (not because the splint is in the way)? Note: See care for a cast or splint.

Is a young child carefully protecting or refusing to use his or her arm?

Are you still having trouble moving your arm normally after 48 hours of home treatment?

Do you have decreased strength in your arm after 48 hours of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have severe pain?

Do you have moderate pain that is getting worse?

Is a young child carefully protecting or refusing to use his or her arm?

Do you have moderate pain that has not gotten better after 24 hours of home treatment?

Do you have mild pain when you move or lift your arm after 48 hours of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Does the skin below the swollen area feel cold or look white?

Has your arm become very swollen within 30 minutes after an injury?

Do you have moderate swelling after 48 hours of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have an arm injury because someone hurt you?

Do you think that another person's arm injury may have been caused by abuse?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have diabetes?

Do you have peripheral arterial disease?

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?

Do you have red streaks extending from the injured area?

Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around the injured area?

Do you have pus in or around the injured area?

Do you know or think you have a fever?

Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness of less than around the injured area for 24 hours or longer?

Have you had swollen glands (lymph nodes) in your elbow or armpit for 48 hours or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have a large (the size of the injured person's palm), painful, swollen bruise within 30 minutes of an injury?

Are you worried about how easily you bruise?

Have bruises from an injury lasted longer than 2 weeks?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may need immediate care. Call your health professional now to discuss your symptoms and arrange for your care.

• Symptoms are likely to worsen without medical care.
• If you do not have a health professional, seek emergency care.
• Emergency transportation is not needed. However, if you are not able to travel safely either by driving yourself or having someone else drive you, call an ambulance.

You do not need to answer any of the other questions.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you need to call your health professional to discuss your symptoms and arrange for care.

• An appointment today is usually needed.
• Symptoms are unlikely to improve without medical care.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may wait to see if your symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or the specified time period). If symptoms improve, no appointment is needed.

• If symptoms do not improve after 24 hours (or the specified time period), an appointment within the next 24 hours is usually needed.
• If appropriate, try home treatment to relieve your symptoms.
• Check your symptoms in 24 hours, or sooner if there is any change.
• Call your health professional if symptoms get worse.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.