How to apply a sling
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.
A sling supports an arm injury and reduces pain.
Step by step
Check
Pulse, sensation and movement of the hand. [1]
Position
Forearm across the chest, elbow at about 90 degrees. [1]
Place
Sling under the forearm, strap around the neck. [1]
Adjust
Hand slightly higher than the elbow, fingers visible. [1]
Pad
Knot or buckle to the side of the neck, padded. [1]
Swathe and recheck
Optional swathe around the body; recheck the hand. [1]
Common errors
- Hand hanging below the elbow.
- Fingers hidden.
- Knot on the spine.
Practice it in VMS
In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
VMS cases that train this skill
Sources
- NREMT psychomotor skill sheets (EMT and Paramedic)
- Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College) (CC BY 4.0)
- OpenStax, Clinical Nursing Skills (CC BY 4.0)
Steps adapted from Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College) and OpenStax, Clinical Nursing Skills, licensed under CC BY 4.0. VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.