|
Spinal Injuries
The Spinal Column consists of a series of interconnected
bones called "vertebrae", which encloses the spinal cord. Spinal cord damage may
cause quadriplegia, paraplegia or chronic painful conditions.
The spine is divided into:
- The cervical spine (neck), 7 vertebrae.
- The thoracic spine (chest), 12 vertebrae.
- The lumbar spine (back), 5 vertebrae.
- Fused vertebrae of the sacrum.
- Small vertebra called the coccygeal.
Mechanism of injury:
- Falling from a height, i.e., fall from a horse, ladder,
tree, roof or down stairs.
- Road traffic accidents. (Bikes, Motorbikes, Autos,
Pedestrian, etc.)
- Diving into shallow water, i.e., Casualties head hitting
the bottom of the pool.
- Sudden forward and backward motion, i.e., Whiplash.
- Sports, i.e., Rugby, Skiing, Gymnastics, etc.
Signs and Symptoms:
- The causality may complain of feeling pain in the his neck
or back.
- They may lose feeling in their limbs.
- They may get a burning or tingling sensation in their
limbs.
- Their arms and legs may feel heavy and stiff.
- Some casualties might tell you, "I feel I've been cut
into half".
- Male erection. (call paraprism).
Treatment:
- Call for an ambulance, dial your local emergency number.
- Leave the injured person in the position you found him,
even if he looks uncomfortable.
- Support their head without moving them by firmly placing
your hands over their ears.
- Tell them not to move.
- Tell the casualty not to nod their head when responding to
questions.
- Reassure the casualty and tell them help is on the way.
- Don't let go of their head until help arrives.
- Treat for shock.
Occasions when you should move the casualty:
- If they're unconscious.
- If they're not breathing.
- If they're in danger of further injury.
If you do have to move the casualty, ideally you should
get some help, say four or five people if you can. Move the casualty as a total unit and
as much as possible in the same position as you found him. i.e., keep the casualty's head
and trunk aligned at all times.
The unconscious casualty:
If the casualty is unconscious
but breathing, put him in the recovery position. Your
priority here is the airway. If he
has no airway, he can't breath. Even if you are on your own, put an unconscious person in the recovery position.
Not Breathing:
If the person stops breathing, you will need to begin resuscitation. You will need to turn the patient onto
his back to start resuscitation. Get some people to help you (four). You'll need to 'log
roll' him over, continually supporting his entire body. Make sure his head, trunk and toes
are aligned at all times. To open the airway, tilt the
head back a little, and lift the chin, gently. If he is still not breathing
start the ABC of resuscitation until help arrives.
Once again, if you're on your own, you'll need to turn the casualty onto the back and
start resuscitation.
Immediate Danger:
If the casualty is in immediate danger of further serious
injury, you must carry him carefully to a place of safety. Again you'll need help. The
person supporting the head, leads while the others support the neck, trunk and legs.
Remember, move the casualty as a total unit. As soon as you reach safety, put the person
down in the same position you initially found him in. |
