Spinal Injury . The spinal cord contains the nerves that carry messages between the brain and the body. The medulla passes through the neck and back. A spinal cord injury is very serious because it can cause paralysis below the site of the injury.
Summary
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- 1 General Considerations
- 2 Causes
- 3 Symptoms
- 4 First aid
- 1 If the person does not react
- 2 If you need to turn the person
- 5 Should not
- 6 Prevention
- 7 Source
General considerations
When someone has a spinal injury, the extra movement can cause further damage to the nerves in the spinal cord, and sometimes it can mean the difference between life and death. If an injured person is suspected of having a spinal injury, they should NOT be moved even a little, unless absolutely necessary (for example, to remove them from a burning car). If it is doubted that the person has a spinal injury, it must be assumed that they really do have it.
Causes
- Penetrating or bullet wound
- Direct trauma to the face, neck, head, or back (for example, car accident)
- Diving accident in the water
- Electric shock
- Extreme trunk twist
- Sports injury (falling to the ground on the head)
- Strong blow to the head or neck, car accident, fall from a great height
Symptoms
- Head held in an unusual position
- Numbness or tingling that radiates down the arm or leg
- Weakness
- Dificulty to walk
- Paralysis of arms and legs
- Loss of sphincter control
- Shock (cool, clammy skin, bluish nails and lips, dazed or semi-unconscious appearance)
- Loss of consciousness
- Neck stiffness or pain, headache
First aid
The main objective is to keep the person immobile and safe until medical help arrives.
- The lifeguard or other person should call the local emergency number
- Hold the head and neck of the injured person in the same position in which they were found. No attempt should be made to relocate the neck, nor should the neck be bent or twisted.
If the person does not react
- Check the person’s breathing and circulation and administer mouth-to-mouth breathing and CPR, if necessary.
- Do not tilt your head back when trying to open the airways. Instead, the fingers are placed on the jaw on either side of the head and the jaw is raised forward.
If you need to turn the person
The person should not turn unless vomiting or choking on blood , or if the lifeguard needs to check for breathing .
- Two people are needed
- One person should be placed on the side of the head and the other on the side of the injured person
- Keep the injured person’s head, neck and back in line while one of the rescuers turns them to the side
Should not
- Bending, twisting, or lifting the person’s head or body
- Try to move the person before medical help arrives, unless absolutely necessary
- Remove helmet if spinal injury is suspected
Prevention
- Wear seat belts
- Avoid driving after consuming alcohol
- Avoid diving headlong into puddles, lakes, rivers, and breaking waves, especially if the depth of the water cannot be determined or the water is not transparent
- Avoid motorcycles and ATVs
- Avoid cutting or ramming a person with the head
