First Aid for Spinal Cord Injuries: Immediate Steps & Safety

If a person is hurt and you suspect a spinal cord injury (see "How to Rule out a Spinal Cord Injury"), take the following steps to ensure the person's safety.

Instructions

• 1

  Check the safety of the scene. If there is immediate danger, such as a risk of avalanche or rockslide, you may have to move the injured person (see "How to Move a Person With a Spinal Injury During First Aid").

• 2

  Stabilize the neck: One rescuer should remain at the injured person's head, holding the neck immobile, one hand on each side of the head, with gentle but firm pressure.

• 3

  Assess the temperature of the ground and surrounding air. If there is any danger of hypothermia, and medical care is far away, you may have to logroll the person (see "How to Logroll an Injured Person During First Aid") onto an insulating pad.

• 4

  Prepare to evacuate the injured person if medical care is far away. This means carefully moving or logrolling the person onto a litter, and making a cervical collar.