How to Make a Hand Strap

The arm strap has the function of immobilizing and protecting the injured arm. Although commonly used for broken bones, slings are also worn during concussions, sprains and dislocations, or in emergency situations when a serious injury is suspected. Regardless of the nature of the arm injury, a sling is often an essential part of the recovery process, because in addition to supporting the arm, it also signals people to be careful with the arm. your. Knowing how to make an improvised sling is a useful first aid skill; it has a protective role and makes the victim more comfortable while waiting for medical assistance.

Table of Contents

Use a piece of fabric to make a hand strap

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Find a square piece of fabric that is the right size. This method will use a square piece of fabric to simulate the function of a dedicated arm strap. Depending on your height and body size, the exact size of the piece may vary. For most people, a square piece of fabric with a side of 1m is appropriate. It is best to use non-stretch fabric – stretch fabric will not be able to keep the arm immobile and may cause more serious injury. ^{[1] X Harvard Medical Schop Trusted Source Go to Source}

A simple way to get a 1-foot square piece of fabric is to use scissors or a knife to cut an old pillowcase or bedspread that you no longer use. When it’s urgent, you can even tear the fabric by hand to fit the desired size.
When making a sling, it’s better to use a piece of fabric that’s too wide than too small . You can adjust the sling that’s too long by tying the knot behind your head while you’re wearing it, but there’s no way to loosen the sling when the fabric isn’t long enough.

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Fold the fabric in half diagonally to form a triangle. Fold the square piece of fabric you currently have diagonally in half to make a triangle. When hanging, the wide fabric in the center of the triangle will support the arm and the sharp corners of the triangle will form a comfortable “collar” behind the head. ^{[2] X Harvard Medical Schop Trusted Source Go to Source}

If for some reason you find the sling isn’t comfortable when folded in half, you can cut the fabric diagonally to create the same shape.

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Wash and bandage the wound, if present, before putting on the sling. When you wear a sling, your arm will always be in contact with a fabric surface that may not be sterile if you make it at home. So, if the injured arm has an open wound, it’s extremely important to wash, dry, and re-bandage carefully before coming into contact with the fabric. Here’s a rough guide on how to clean a minor wound – read How to Care for Light Scratches for more information. If you have a severe injury or see bone protruding at the wound, don’t try to make your own sling – go to the hospital right away . ^{[3] X Research Sources}

First, wash the open wound BUT do not use water that is too hot or too cold. Open the faucet slowly, do not let the water flow strongly. If you do anything that is not recommended, your arm will definitely hurt more.
Remove grit or other debris with clean tweezers if water cannot be removed.
Dressing. Use a bandage to cover the wound without letting the glue stick to the wound. If needed, you can place a clean gauze pad over the wound before dressing.
You may also have to use a brace. In this case, you will need a brace before you can wear the sling.
Do not touch the wound directly, unless you are experienced with medical care.

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Remove all jewelry worn on the injured arm. Next, you need to remove all rings, bracelets, and armbands on the injured arm. If the arm is swollen during recovery, jewelry (especially those that are tight) can impede blood flow to the arm, causing pain and discomfort, and possibly even getting stuck. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Thread one end of the piece of fabric under the arm, the other end over the shoulder. Place the injured arm at a 90-degree angle in front of the chest (parallel to the floor). Using the other hand, thread the triangle piece of cloth over the shoulder of the injured arm. Drop the rest of the fabric behind the affected arm, with the triangular “top” facing the hip on the same side as the affected arm. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Pull the other end of the sling over the other shoulder. Using your uninjured arm, grab the corner of the piece of cloth that is facing the floor and pull it up to your body, wrapping it over the opposite shoulder similar to the other end of the piece of cloth and toward the back of your neck. Be gentle, as the cloth should now touch the injured arm and the arm can be jerked if pulled hard. The length of the sling should be sufficient so that the affected arm can hang comfortably at a 90-degree angle. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Adjust so that your fingers stick out just enough outside the edge of the fabric so that you can perform simple movements, such as writing, while your hand is still supported in the sling.

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Tie the two ends of the piece of fabric at the nape of your neck. Once you have adjusted the length of the sling, you will tie the two ends of the fabric with a simple knot at the nape of the neck to keep it in place. If you need to adjust the height of the sling, you can open this knot and tie a new knot so that the piece of fabric hangs “up” or “down”. Congratulation! So you have finished the wristband. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

If the knot pressing on the nape of your neck is uncomfortable, put a pad or towel underneath.
Remember to avoid the hairs at the nape of your neck when tying the knot. If you accidentally tie your hair into a knot, you will get a painful jerk every time you move your arm or walk.

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If you want, you can use a tape to close the two edges of the arm strap. If you have a pin, pin the edges of the piece of fabric together near the elbow area. Thus, you will have a “stopper” as a fulcrum for the elbow. Without this “stopper,” your arm could slip backward as you move or cause the fabric to shrivel at the wrist. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Maintain correct posture when wearing arm slings. The sling will transfer the weight of the injured arm to the upper back and neck. This added load can put a strain on your back and shoulders – even if you don’t feel the stretch, you’ll eventually experience fatigue in the area between the shoulder blades when wearing the sling. You can reduce this impact by keeping your posture straight and correct. See brief instructions on the pose below:

Standing position when wearing a sling: Keep your back straight, shoulders slightly back but relaxed. Raise your chin and avoid stooping.
Sitting position when wearing the arm strap: lean back against the chair if the chair has a backrest. Keep your back straight and in an upright position. Lift your head and raise your chin so that your neck stays straight. Both feet are close to the ground. Do not stoop or slouch. You can rest your hand on the armrest of the chair if you feel comfortable.
While wearing a sling, any time you experience severe back or neck pain, see your doctor. Avoid wearing a sling if you have a neck or shoulder problem.

Improvise the outfit into a belt

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Improvised arm straps are of course not as good as specialized hand straps. Compared with homemade arm slings, modern products are far superior in terms of comfort, effectiveness and protection. However, arm injuries can happen unexpectedly and force you to improvise. If you accidentally get injured in the wilderness on a camping trip, you may not be able to find the fabric to make the wristbands described above. At least it’s better than nothing.

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Use a long sleeve shirt to make a belt. Use sweaters, sweatshirts, shirts, or anything long-sleeve. Tie two sleeves behind your head and carefully thread the injured arm through the loop you just created. Adjust so that the piece of fabric supports at some point from arm to wrist – wherever you feel comfortable. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Try to adjust the length of the sleeves so that when tied, your arms can hang at a 90-degree angle (parallel to the ground).
If you have a safety pin, you can try “closing” the fabric of the shirt at the elbow to make a temporary “stop” for the sling as described in the method above.

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Use the belt as a hand strap. The belt is a great accessory for improvised arm slings thanks to its ability to be looped in adjustable sizes. You can leave the belt buckle at the back of your neck and thread your arms through the waistband. Place the arm’s weight on the waistband along the forearm or wrist. Close the belt buckle at the nape of your neck so that it supports your arms at a 90-degree angle. ^{[10] X Research Source}

A belt buckle placed on the back of your neck can be uncomfortable, so move the belt so that the buckle is somewhere between your arm and neck. You can also put padding between the waistband and the neck for extra comfort.

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Use a tie as a wristband. If you accidentally get injured at the office or while wearing a formal suit, a tie can turn into a temporary armband. Similar to the above methods, you just need to tie the tie at the nape of your neck and thread your arm through the loop you just created. Adjust the position and length of the temporary arm strap so that the arm is suspended at a 90-degree angle.

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Apply fabric tape. Cloth tape can be very helpful in immobilizing the arm. Thanks to its strength, flexibility and similarity to fabric, cloth tape is quite suitable for this.

A loop of fabric tape can replace a belt or tie to support wrists, arms, and elbows.
Use cloth tape to secure the injured arm to the upper body to reduce movement.
Avoid getting the glue on the skin. The adhesive sides of the fabric tape should be facing each other so as not to stick to the skin.

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Seek medical attention (and/or actual sling) immediately. Situations where you need to make a sling with a garment usually occur when you cannot access medical attention for some reason. If you have a serious or prolonged injury, you should seek medical advice and help as soon as possible. Homemade slings are better than none, but they are no substitute for specialized arm slings (not to mention other treatments that only hospitals can provide). Be careful – don’t risk not seeing a doctor, putting your injury at risk of getting worse.

Handling serious cases

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Seek medical attention for a fracture or dislocation. A homemade sling can be a good choice for minor arm injuries, but it is not enough to heal in severe fractures or dislocations. You need to see a doctor to have a look at the injury, take x-rays, and discuss treatment options. The treatment your doctor prescribes may include wearing a sling, but you may also need a cast or surgery. If you use a homemade sling to immobilize a broken bone or dislocated arm, your arm may not heal well. You may experience persistent discomfort and need longer treatment.

Common symptoms of a broken arm include: ^{[11] X Research Source}
- So hurt
- Ache
- Swelling
- Loss of movement or sensation
- There is a possibility that the wound is open and the bone is protruding out
- Has a different shape than the uninjured arm
Common symptoms of arm dislocation (most commonly shoulder dislocation) include: ^{[12] X Research Source}
- Pain in the arm, shoulder and/or collarbone
- Deformity (swelling above or near the shoulder)
- Swelling
- Bruises

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Go straight to the emergency room if you see bones in the wound. When a broken bone breaks through the skin or a bone is visible in the wound, it is called an “open fracture”. These types of fractures are painful, dangerous, and difficult to treat. Note that the types of trauma that cause open fractures can also cause other injuries. ^{[13] X Source of Research} It is crucial that you receive prompt and effective treatment.

Do not attempt to reposition broken bones without the help of an experienced medical professional. The exception to this rule is exceptional and rare cases: when you can’t get medical care, and at the same time repositioning a broken bone by hand is better than doing nothing.

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Only attempt to rearrange bones if you are at risk of losing a limb. You should only attempt to reposition broken bones when there are signs of poor circulation. Again: if possible, wait for the doctor to reposition the broken bones. The exception is when a broken bone impedes blood flow to the limb. You can tell if the limb is not receiving blood if the limb on the other side of the broken bone is pale or blue, has no pulse, loses feeling, or cools. In these cases, the risk of limb loss outweighs the danger of unprofessional repositioning or self-repositioning. ^{[14] X Research Source}

In this case, please read the article “How to fold a broken bone” for more information.

Advice

To keep the sling in place, you can use a long band to tie around the sling, around the injured arm, but underneath the uninjured arm, and attach it to each other with a safety pin. This prevents the arm from moving when you walk or move.
If a full-size sling isn’t available, or if recommended, make a simple sling with just the neck and wrists.
Another idea: Wrap a piece of fabric, towel, tights, tights (anything on hand) around your wrist and around your neck similar to a full-size sling.
If your arm and shoulder don’t get better even with support (using a sling), you need to see a doctor.
Try to reduce swelling by applying ice or a frozen bean bag to the injury before it gets too bad. Do not apply ice directly to the skin to avoid further damage. Instead, line a paper towel between your skin and several ice packs.
Hooded sweatshirts can be used as a sling belt like a long sleeve shirt. Tie the top without the hat, pin the ends together and roll the hat up to cushion the hands!

Warning

If you suspect a broken arm, wrist or elbow, see your doctor.
Some shoulder problems, such as frozen shoulder periarthritis, are much worse when you use a sling. See your doctor as soon as possible if the pain does not go away after about a day.
For vulnerable people and the elderly, slings can aggravate neck problems.

Things you need

1 meter square piece of fabric or bed sheet/pillowcase
Pin
Soft pad (optional)

Steps