First aid: spinal injuries

Information and advice on the proper first aid method for treating a victim of a suspected spinal injury.

By Wayne Bellfax, Personal Trainer   Talk to the Author.

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First aid: spinal injuries

Each year across the United States, many accidents involving spinal injury occur. It is very important that a possible injury to the spine be diagnosed quickly and effectively in order to care for and protect an accident victim.

Knowing the proper form of first aid to administer in the case of emergency to a person suspected of a spinal injury is a must, as mishandling of the accident victim could result in further damage to the spinal cord.

Here are a few helpful guidelines to assist you if you suspect someone may have a spinal injury due to a fall or accident...

First and foremost, should you suspect an individual might be suffering from a spinal injury, never move them, even if they are in the water. If the victim is conscious, be sure to tell them not to move. Then call 911 for emergency medical assistance.

Emergency medical personnel will have the proper training and equipment to care for the victim. Individuals suspected of spinal injury will require a cervical collar and need to be stabilized on a spine board. Remember that it is better to do nothing than to improperly handle a victim suspected of spinal injury.

While waiting for emergency medical personnel to arrive, there are a number of things you can do to care for the victim using your senses to collect important information to relay to the medical professionals upon arrival.

If you are CPR certified, monitor the victim's vital signs using the A, B, C, and D first aid method.

* A) Make sure the victim's AIRWAY is open.

* B) Monitor their BREATHING.

* C) Check the victim's CIRULATION by monitoring their pulse rate, checking for severe bleeding, and checking the individual's skin color, temperature and moisture.

* D) Check for DISABILITY. Their mental status and spinal cord response as described below.

Even if you are not CPR trained, you can use your sense of sight to gather important medical data. Head injuries serve as a clue in diagnosis since the head may have been snapped suddenly in one direction or the other causing spinal injury.

Paralysis in the victim's arms or legs is a definite symptom of spinal injury. Should the accident victim complain of pain when moving their arms or legs or the experience of tingling, numbness, weakness or a burning sensation in these extremities, possible spinal injury should be assumed.

Another sign that the victim may have received injury to the spine, would be the individual's loss of bladder or bowel control.

A deformity in the victim's head or neck is also an indication of spinal injury. If the victim's head and neck appear to be abnormal or resting at an odd-looking angle, damage to the spine should be suspected.

In any and all cases, if you are uncertain if the victim has suffered an injury to the spine, assume they have until it is proven otherwise. Continue to care for the person using the proper techniques of administering first aid until arrival of emergency medical services.

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