Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
A SAM splint is a flexible, reusable limb splint made of a thin aluminum core between layers of closed-cell foam. It is shaped by hand to the curve needed and held in place with a wrap or tape. This page is for clinic staff, first-aid and EMS supply buyers, and students who need to know what the product is, which sizes exist, and how the FDA classifies it.
What a SAM splint is
The manufacturer, SAM Medical Products, describes the SAM Splint as two layers of closed-cell foam around an aluminum interior. It is lightweight, reusable, radiolucent and weather resistant, with a cleanable exterior (SAM Medical product page, checked 2026-10-30). The Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN) term recorded for it in the FDA’s AccessGUDID database is “First aid limb splint, mouldable, reusable” (code 63273), defined as a portable, padded, semi-rigid splint for emergency immobilization of an injured arm or leg that is molded by hand and typically used by emergency medical services.
Who uses it: emergency medical services and first-aid providers, per the GMDN definition above.
It differs from a heat-moldable thermoplastic such as Aquaplast, from a rigid stack splint made for a single finger, and from a traction splint. For the general idea of splinting, see what is a splint.
How a SAM splint is built
The manufacturer says the splint uses its C-Curve principle to mold the foam and aluminum layers into structural arcs. It needs only a wrap or tape to support the limb, can be cut with ordinary scissors, and can be bent back flat for storage or remolded for a different injury.
Types and sizes
The manufacturer lists the following standard sizes and formats. The AccessGUDID catalog lists matching model numbers for the charcoal and orange/blue versions.
| Size (manufacturer name) | Formats listed | Width | AccessGUDID model (examples) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 in Small | Flat/Fold | 4.25 in standard | SP500-CH-EN (Wrist 9 in flat, charcoal) |
| 18 in Medium | Flat/Fold | 4.25 in standard | SP502-CH-EN (Junior 18 in flat, charcoal) |
| 36 in Large | Flat/Fold and Roll (roll only in this size) | 4.25 in standard | SP507-CH-EN (36 in flat); SP506-CH-EN (36 in roll) |
| 36 in XL | Flat/Fold | 5.5 in | SP508-CH-EN (XL 36 in flat, charcoal) |
| 4 in Finger | Flat/Fold | Not listed | Not listed in the catalog |
The manufacturer lists two colorways, Orange/Blue and Charcoal, plus a 24 in Industrial version (SP504-OB-EN), a 36 in VET version (SP526-OB-EN-543) and an OD Green 36 in fold version. The catalog also lists orange/blue models such as SP507-OB-EN and SP506-OB-EN, and an OD flat model, SP507-OD-EN.
Regulatory and labeling facts
| Item | What the record says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA product code | NOC, “Splint, Extremity, Non-Inflatable, External, Non-Sterile” | openFDA classification, 2026-10-30 |
| Device class | Class 1 | openFDA classification |
| Regulation number | 21 CFR 878.3910 | openFDA classification |
| Premarket submission | Exempt | AccessGUDID, SP506-CH-EN record |
| Sterility | Not packaged sterile; does not require sterilization before use | AccessGUDID, SP506-CH-EN record |
| Natural rubber latex | Labeled as not made with natural rubber latex | AccessGUDID, SP506-CH-EN record |
| Single use | No (reusable) | AccessGUDID, SP506-CH-EN record |
| MRI | MR Conditional | AccessGUDID, SP506-CH-EN record |
These values come from the record for the 36 in charcoal roll (SP506-CH-EN, record version dated 2022-09-09). Other models carry their own records.
How to use a SAM splint
In general terms, the splint is shaped by hand to the curve needed, held against the limb with a wrap or tape, and can be cut to length with scissors or reshaped afterwards, according to the manufacturer’s product page. The step-by-step method, cautions and cleaning directions are in the manufacturer’s Instructions for Use, which is the document to follow; this page does not replace it.
How to choose
The published product and catalog records state these selection facts:
- Size and format: the product comes in 9, 18, 36 and 36 in XL sizes and a 4 in finger size, with a roll format only in the 36 in size, and a wider 5.5 in XL.
- Labeling: the AccessGUDID record lists the device as non-sterile, reusable, not made with natural rubber latex and MR Conditional. Check the label and Instructions for Use of the exact model being considered.
- Variants: Industrial, VET and OD Green versions exist and are listed separately by the manufacturer.
Common mistakes
- Treating it as a heat-moldable product. It is shaped by hand; heat-moldable materials are a different product class.
- Assuming one record covers every model. The labeling facts above were read from one model’s record.
- Relying on a web how-to instead of the Instructions for Use for the model in hand.
FAQ
What is a SAM splint?
A reusable, hand-moldable limb splint with an aluminum core between closed-cell foam layers, classified by the FDA under product code NOC as a Class 1 non-inflatable external extremity splint.
How do you use a SAM splint?
At a general level, it is molded by hand to the needed curve, secured with wrap or tape, and can be cut or reshaped. The method for a given injury and the warnings are in the manufacturer’s Instructions for Use; this page gives no splinting procedure.
Is a SAM splint a heat-moldable product?
No. It is shaped by hand; heat-moldable thermoplastics such as Aquaplast are a different product class.
Is a SAM splint sterile or reusable?
The AccessGUDID record for the 36 in charcoal roll lists it as not packaged sterile and not single use.
Sources
- SAM Medical Products, SAM Splint product page, https://sammedical.com/products/sam-splint, checked 2026-10-30.
- NLM AccessGUDID, SAM Splint 36in Roll Charcoal (SP506-CH-EN), https://accessgudid.nlm.nih.gov/devices/00822045428683, checked 2026-10-30.
- FDA openFDA device classification, product code NOC, api.fda.gov/device/classification.json?search=product_code:NOC, checked 2026-10-30.
Related CASRAI guides: splint kit contents and items inside a first aid kit.
