Okuzeka
Emergency Medicine & First Aid vocabulary · Burns, Fractures and Sprains

Sling

Meaning in emergency medicine & first aid, with examples

/slɪŋ/nounCommon term

In emergency medicine & first aid, sling means: A piece of cloth tied around the neck that supports an injured arm, wrist or shoulder and keeps it still.

In Turkish: kol askısı, askı

How it is used

Often made from a triangular bandage or bought ready-made with a strap. Common types are the arm sling and the elevation sling. Patients go home 'in a sling' or 'with their arm in a sling'.

Example sentences

  1. She left the ED with her arm in a sling.

  2. We made a sling from a triangular bandage.

Common collocations

  • arm sling
  • in a sling
  • elevation sling
  • triangular bandage
  • bandageA strip of cloth or elastic material wrapped around part of the body to hold a dressing in place, give support or apply pressure.
  • splintA rigid or padded support fastened along an injured limb to stop it moving, reduce pain and prevent further damage.
  • fractureA break or crack in a bone, from a thin crack that barely shows on an X-ray to a bone broken into several pieces.
  • dislocationAn injury in which a bone is forced out of its normal position in a joint, such as the shoulder, a finger or the kneecap.

More terms: Burns, Fractures and Sprains

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.