What should you do if you identify an open fracture?

An open fracture, visible in the illustration, is one where the continuity of the skin is broken. The most important things are to stop the haemorrhage and cover the wound with a sterile dressing. You must not attempt to set the bone yourself or push in its fragments. After dressing the wound, the limb should be immobilised in the position it was found, splinting the two adjacent joints.