1 Summon help
2Immobilize victim
3Monitor victim
46 FIRST AID
Spinal injuries
Damage to the spinal cord can cause permanent loss of movement below the injured area, therefore all spinal injuries are potentially serious. The aims of first-aid treatment of a suspected spinal injury are to dial 911 or call EMS, and to keep the victim immobile until medical help arrives, because even the slightest movement could damage the spinal cord.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
• Pain in neck or back
• Burning sensation or tingling in a limb
• Loss of feeling in a limb
• Inability to move legs
TREATING SPINAL INJURIES
1 Summon help
• Dial 911 or call EMS.
2Immobilize victim
• Leave the victim in the position in which you found her.
• Reassure her and support her head to prevent any movement.
• Ask someone to place rolled-up clothes or towels on either side of the victim’ s head and body to help keep her still.
• Stay with her until help arrives.
3Monitor victim
• Monitor her breathing( p. 68 for an adult, p. 71 for a child or baby), pulse( p. 68 for an adult, p. 70 for a child or baby), and level of consciousness( p. 12) every 10 minutes while waiting for help.
! Important
• Do not move the victim unless she is in danger or needs to be resuscitated.
• If she loses consciousness, open her airway by tilting her head only slightly, and monitor
her breathing.
• If breathing becomes difficult for her, have several other people help to move the victim
into the recovery position. Put your hands over her ears to keep her head aligned and, working as a team, roll her over very gently, making sure that you keep the neck and back aligned at all times.
Hold victim’ s head still