Gear of the week | The aluminium padded splint

An aluminium padded splint is a very malleable splint for immobilising the extremities. The best known is certainly the SamSplint^® splint from SAM Medical Products. Due to their universal applicability and low weight, aluminium padded splints are well suited for the emergency medical services, but are also very easy to use for first aid. They can be transported as a roll or folded flat. It is a piece of soft aluminium sheet, padded with foam on both sides.

The use of the splint is incredibly versatile. The splint is available in different sizes for the leg, arm and fingers. Whether forearm, wrist, ankle or knee - the corresponding body parts can be immobilised with just a few simple steps. According to the manufacturer, it even works for dogs.

As one side of the padded splint is usually softer, you should of course ensure that this side is placed towards the body. The splint gets its strength mainly by bending into a channel. To optimise force transmission, there should be no clothing between the splint and the skin, although this can also be neglected in winter sports, as heat retention after an injury is at least as important as proper splinting.

A large selection of (video) instructions for SamSplint^® and Co. can be found on the manufacturer's website or, of course, on YouTube.