Q.In a road accident, Moses fractured his leg. One of the passers-by tied a wooden plank to the fractured leg while Moses was rushed to the hospital. Was this essential? Why?

Step 1. A fractured bone is unstable, and its broken ends can move against each other or against surrounding tissue if the limb is not held still.

Step 2. Tying a rigid wooden plank along the length of the fractured leg acts as an improvised splint, immobilising the broken bone ends and the adjoining joints.

Step 3. This immobilisation was essential because it prevents the sharp broken bone ends from further damaging surrounding muscles, blood vessels and nerves, reduces pain by stopping movement at the fracture site, prevents the fracture from becoming worse or displaced during transport, and reduces the risk of a closed fracture …

Apply the basic first-aid principle that immobilising a fracture prevents …

• Thinking a splint's only purpose is comfort, rather than preventing further physical damage at the fracture site. …