If you think a child has broken a bone, stop the activity and support the injured limb in the position you found it. Avoid straightening it or asking the child to walk on it. Arrange prompt medical assessment. Call 995 if you suspect a neck or back injury, the injury followed major trauma, or there is heavy bleeding or another immediate danger. HealthHub childhood fracture guide · SCDF emergency medical services
A child can have a fracture without a dramatic bend or obvious swelling. Pain, swelling, difficulty bearing weight, or a toddler refusing to use a limb after a fall are all reasons to get the injury checked. HealthHub childhood fracture guide
- Support the limb and limit movement.
- Seek prompt assessment for a suspected fracture.
- Keep a child with a possible neck or back injury still and call 995. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
On this page · Recognise a Possible Fracture · Support the Limb Without Forcing It · What to Tell the Doctor or Dispatcher · Frequently Asked Questions
Recognise a Possible Fracture
A child may point to one painful spot, hold an arm close to the body or refuse to put weight on a leg. A younger child may cry when picked up or stop reaching with the injured arm. You cannot reliably distinguish a fracture from a sprain by looking at it. A clinician can examine the injury and decide whether imaging is needed. HealthHub childhood fracture guide
Support the Limb Without Forcing It
Help the child settle in a safe place. Let them hold an injured arm in a comfortable position, or support it with a folded towel or clothing if you can do so without moving it. Avoid testing the range of movement, massaging it or pulling it straight. If a foot or hand becomes numb, pale or cold after the injury, get emergency assessment. HealthHub childhood fracture guide · NHS fracture warning signs
If the skin is broken
Get emergency medical help for a wound over a suspected fracture, especially if bone is visible. Cover the wound with a clean dressing if available. Avoid pressing on protruding bone or pushing it back in. If there is heavy bleeding, call 995 and follow the dispatcher’s guidance. NHS fracture warning signs · SCDF emergency medical services
What to Tell the Doctor or Dispatcher
Describe how the injury happened, the time, what part of the body took the impact and whether the child could use the limb afterwards. If the injury happened at school or during CCA, ask the adult who saw it to note the height of the fall or the direction of impact. Give the nearest usable gate or entrance if calling an ambulance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can it be broken if the child can still move it?
Movement alone cannot rule out a fracture. Seek assessment if pain, swelling or difficulty using the limb follows an injury. HealthHub childhood fracture guide
Should I ask the child to stand to check their leg?
Avoid a test walk. Keep weight off the injured leg and arrange medical assessment. HealthHub childhood fracture guide
What if I suspect a spine injury?
Leave the child still unless there is an immediate danger, call 995 and follow the dispatcher’s directions. HealthHub childhood fracture guide · SCDF emergency medical services
Continue With the Singapore Emergency Playbook
- Nosebleed in a Child in Singapore | How to Stop It and When to Go to A&E
- Knocked-Out Tooth in Singapore | First Aid for a Permanent Tooth or Baby Tooth
- Eye Injury in a Child in Singapore | Chemical Splashes, Foreign Objects and When to Go to A&E
- Child Medical Emergency in Singapore
- Severe Bleeding in Singapore
Guidance checked 8 November 2026.