Simple Rib Fracture

• 1). Gently touch the area of the chest that received the blow. The injured person will complain of sharp tenderness at the point of the fracture if one or more ribs were broken.
  
  
• 2). Have the injured person take a deep breath or cough: Does he or she feel sharp, stabbing pain? If yes, suspect a fractured rib.
  
  
• 3). Look for the following additional signs and symptoms: deformity or discoloration around the chest area; shallow breathing to minimize the pain with each breath; an elevated respiratory rate. The presence of any of these signs may indicate a fractured rib.
  
  
• 4). Decrease movement on the side of the fracture using one of the following methods: Tape the factured side with four or five pieces of adhesive tape from the sternum to the spine; apply an elastic bandage around the entire chest; use a sling and swathe to immobilize the arm against the injured side; tape a stuff sack filled with clothes loosely to the injured side of the chest. See "How to Treat a Rib Fracture."
  
  
• 5). Administer ibuprofen, acetaminophen or naproxen sodium for pain.
  
  
• 6). Encourage the injured person to cough frequently, despite the pain, in order to prevent secretions from pooling in the lung causing pneumonia.
  
  
• 7). Evacuate immediately, monitoring for difficulty breathing. The injured person may be able to walk out if there are no signs of respiratory distress.