If you suspect a again or neck (spinal) injury, do not go the affected particular person. Long-lasting paralysis and other serious complications can end result. Assume a particular person has a spinal injury if:

  • There is proof of a head injury with an ongoing change in the person’s amount of consciousness
  • The particular person complains of severe suffering in his or her neck or again
  • An injury has exerted substantial power on the again or head
  • The particular person complains of weak point, numbness, or paralysis or lacks regulate of his or her limbs, bladder or bowels
  • The neck or physique is twisted or positioned oddly

If you suspect another person has a spinal injury:

  • Get support. Call 911 or crisis health-related support.
  • Preserve the particular person however. Location weighty towels or rolled sheets on both sides of the neck or keep the head and neck to stop movement.
  • Stay away from going the head or neck. Present as considerably to start with help as doable without the need of going the person’s head or neck. If the particular person exhibits no symptoms of circulation (respiration, coughing or movement), get started CPR, but do not tilt the head again to open the airway. Use your fingers to gently grasp the jaw and elevate it ahead. If the particular person has no pulse, get started chest compressions.
  • Preserve helmet on. If the particular person is wearing a helmet, never take away it. A football helmet facemask should really be taken off if you need to accessibility the airway.
  • You should not roll by itself. If you must roll the particular person simply because he or she is vomiting, choking on blood or simply because you have to make confident the particular person is however respiration, you need at least a single other particular person. With a single of you at the head and another together the side of the injured particular person, work together to keep the person’s head, neck and again aligned even though rolling the particular person onto a single side.