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Spinal injury

Spinal injury By the end of this session you will be able to: explain when to suspect a spinal injury recognise when someone has a spinal injury respond appropriately to a casualty with a spinal injury.

Spinal injury What you will see: pain at the site of the injury a twist in the normal shape of the spine weakness or loss of movement Loss of sensation or abnormal sensation NOTE: a spinal injury should be suspected when someone has received a severe blow to the back, neck or head.

Spinal injury What you should do (conscious casualty): tell the casualty not to move dial 999 or 112 for an ambulance kneel or sit behind the casualty’s head and hold the sides of their head firmly to stop it from moving support the head and neck until the ambulance arrives.

Spinal injury What you should do (unconscious casualty): if the airway cannot be maintained, or if you are alone, put the casualty in the recovery position dial 999 or 112 for an ambulance.