Spinal/Neck Injury
WHILE MOVING PERSON WITH SUSPECTED SPINAL CORD INJURY, THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE KEPT IN MIND:
1. LOG OF WOOD METHOD SHOULD BE FOLLOWED.
2. MINIMUM THREE TO FIVE HELPERS SHOULD BE INVOLVED WHILE DOING THIS.
3. ONE HOLDING AT BACK OF NECK, ONE BEHIND CHEST AND THIRD AT THE LOWER BACK AND LEGS.
4. ALL FIVE SHOULD COORDINATE IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE WHOLE BODY OF PERSON IS LIFTED IN TOTO WITHOUT CREATING ANY MOVEMENT OF SPINE. (LIKE LIFTING LOG OF WOOD)
5. THE ABOVE CAN BE DONE BY KEEPING ONE PERSON AMONG FIVE AS LEADER, SHE/HE SHOULD COUNT TO 3. THE MOMENT LEADER FINISHES COUNTING THREE ALL HELPERS SHOULD LIFT THE VICTIM AT A TIME.
Read more: Spinal Cord Injury - First Aid and Emergency Treatment Guide | Medindia http://www.medindia.net/patients/Firstaid_Spinal_Cord_Injury.htm#ixzz2Oe6ZAFbQ
Spinal injury
The spinal cord contains the nerves that carry messages between your brain and body. The cord passes through your neck and back. A spinal cord injury is very serious because it can cause loss of movement (paralysis) below the site of the injury. Information Sourced directly from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000029.htm
Causes A spinal cord injury may be caused by:
Symptoms of a spinal cord injury may include:
First Aid Treatment
Never move anyone who you think may have a spinal injury, unless it is absolutely necessary. For example, if you need to get the person out of a burning car.)
Keep the person absolutely still and safe until medical help arrives.
Prevention The following may lower your risk of spinal injury:
Torg JS. Cervical Spine Injuries: 1. Cervical Spine Injuries in the Adult. In: DeLee JC, Drez D Jr, Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez’s Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:chap 16, section A.
Pizzutillo PD, Herman MJ. Cervical Spine Injuries: 2. Cervical Spine Injuries in the Child. In: DeLee JC, Drez D Jr, Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez’s Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:chap 16, section A.
Update Date: 5/2/2011 Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc
1. LOG OF WOOD METHOD SHOULD BE FOLLOWED.
2. MINIMUM THREE TO FIVE HELPERS SHOULD BE INVOLVED WHILE DOING THIS.
3. ONE HOLDING AT BACK OF NECK, ONE BEHIND CHEST AND THIRD AT THE LOWER BACK AND LEGS.
4. ALL FIVE SHOULD COORDINATE IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE WHOLE BODY OF PERSON IS LIFTED IN TOTO WITHOUT CREATING ANY MOVEMENT OF SPINE. (LIKE LIFTING LOG OF WOOD)
5. THE ABOVE CAN BE DONE BY KEEPING ONE PERSON AMONG FIVE AS LEADER, SHE/HE SHOULD COUNT TO 3. THE MOMENT LEADER FINISHES COUNTING THREE ALL HELPERS SHOULD LIFT THE VICTIM AT A TIME.
Read more: Spinal Cord Injury - First Aid and Emergency Treatment Guide | Medindia http://www.medindia.net/patients/Firstaid_Spinal_Cord_Injury.htm#ixzz2Oe6ZAFbQ
Spinal injury
The spinal cord contains the nerves that carry messages between your brain and body. The cord passes through your neck and back. A spinal cord injury is very serious because it can cause loss of movement (paralysis) below the site of the injury. Information Sourced directly from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000029.htm
Causes A spinal cord injury may be caused by:
- Bullet or stab wound
- Traumatic injury to the face, neck, head, chest, or back (for example, a car accident)
- Diving accident
- Electric shock
- Extreme twisting of the middle of the body
- Landing on the head during a sports injury
- Fall from a great height
Symptoms of a spinal cord injury may include:
- Head that is in an unusual position
- Numbness or tingling that spreads down an arm or leg
- Weakness
- Difficulty walking
- Paralysis (loss of movement) of arms or legs
- No bladder or bowel control
- Shock (pale, clammy skin; bluish lips and fingernails; acting dazed or semiconscious)
- Lack of alertness (unconsciousness)
- Stiff neck, headache, or neck pain
First Aid Treatment
Never move anyone who you think may have a spinal injury, unless it is absolutely necessary. For example, if you need to get the person out of a burning car.)
Keep the person absolutely still and safe until medical help arrives.
- Call the local emergency number, such as 911.
- Hold the person's head and neck in the position in which they were found. DO NOT try to straighten the neck. Do not allow the neck to bend or twist.
- Do not allow the person to get up and walk unassisted.
- Check the person's breathing and circulation. If necessary, begin rescue breathing and CPR.
- DO NOT tilt the head back when doing CPR. Instead, place your fingers on the jaw on each side of the head. Lift the jaw forward.
- Two people are needed.
- One person should be located at the person's head; the other at the person's side.
- Keep the person's head, neck, and back in line with each other while you roll him or her onto one side.
- DO NOT bend, twist, or lift the person's head or body.
- DO NOT attempt to move the person before medical help arrives unless it is absolutely necessary.
- DO NOT remove a helmet if a spinal injury is suspected.
Prevention The following may lower your risk of spinal injury:
- Wear seat belts.
- Do not drink and drive.
- Do not dive into pools, lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water, particularly if you cannot determine the depth of the water or if the water is not clear.
- Do not tackle or dive into a person with your head.
Torg JS. Cervical Spine Injuries: 1. Cervical Spine Injuries in the Adult. In: DeLee JC, Drez D Jr, Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez’s Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:chap 16, section A.
Pizzutillo PD, Herman MJ. Cervical Spine Injuries: 2. Cervical Spine Injuries in the Child. In: DeLee JC, Drez D Jr, Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez’s Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:chap 16, section A.
Update Date: 5/2/2011 Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc
Head Injuries
Information sourced directly from; http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/treatments/first_aid/procedures/headinjuries.shtml
Concussion is usually caused by a blow to the head which ‘shakes’ the brain inside the skull, but it can also result from indirect force, such as landing heavily on your feet.
Things that would cause concussion –
Signs and symptoms of concussion –
Treatment for someone you suspect has had a head injury:
Concussion is usually caused by a blow to the head which ‘shakes’ the brain inside the skull, but it can also result from indirect force, such as landing heavily on your feet.
Things that would cause concussion –
- Blow to the head
- Short period of being dazed and confused
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Brief loss of memory
- Headache
Signs and symptoms of concussion –
- Deteriorating level of response
- History of head injury
- Severe headache
- Unequal pupil size
- Weakness and/or paralysis down one side of body or face
- Change in behaviour
- Noisy breathing
- Slow, strong pulse
- High temperate and flushed face
Treatment for someone you suspect has had a head injury:
- Check their level of response – are they alert and responding normally? Do they respond to your voice? Do they respond to pain? Are they unconscious?
- If the casualty is conscious and responsive help them sit or lie down, monitor their responses and if they develop a headache, blurred vision, nausea or excessive sleepiness get medical help
- If the casualty is unconscious, leave them in the position you have found them and open their airway using the jaw-thrust method as follows:
- Kneel behind the casualty’s head and position your hands on either side of their face with your fingertips at the angles of their jaw. Gently lift the jaw forwards with your fingers, making sure you do not tilt the head back. Check their breathing. If the casualty is not breathing perform CPR and get emergency medical help.