Dislocation Response
Joint displacement requiring professional reduction
Step by Step
Call emergency services or get the person to an emergency department. Do not try to push or pull the joint back into place. Support the joint in the position found, using padding, a sling, or the person's own support. A cold pack wrapped in cloth may reduce pain and swelling. Check circulation, sensation, and skin color beyond the joint; a pale, cold, or numb limb needs urgent emergency care. Give nothing to eat or drink, since sedation may be needed to put the joint back. All dislocations need medical assessment, even those that appear to go back on their own.
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