Here's everything you need to know to make your own mud cast. This type of cast is a bit heavier than what you'd get at the doctor, but it does a good job of supporting your limb and it requires only materials that are readily available.

1. Find Some Clay
Mud with high clay content is ideal for this cast technique. Check out river banks and other wet areas for clay that is moist and ready to go. Test the quality of the clay by rolling the mud into cigar shaped pieces and bending them. The more they flex without breaking, the better they will work for the cast. You’ll need about one quart of clay-rich mud for a forearm cast, and more mud for bigger casts.

2. Wrap the Limb
Rolled gauze is a great medical item, but any cloth will work for the initial limb padding. Wrap strips of cloth around the injured limb and add a few sticks for stabilization. Wrap your material over the sticks to keep them in place. Put a ball of cloth or gauze in the hand to pad it as well. Place the wrist in a “position of use,” which means the back of the hand is slightly lifted.

3. After this, place a layer of mud over the cloth and then apply additional strips of cloth over that. Continue adding layers of both until you create a normal-sized cast.

4. Finally, create a sling and then and place the arm inside so the cast can dry and set.

This improvised cast should be plenty strong and supportive enough to last until you can reach a hospital or doctor for proper medical treatment. We're so glad we have this knowledge, because when you're out in the wild it can take some time to find a doctor, and there's no need to suffer until you can!

Article Source: Outdoor Life