Emergency First Aid

for Children
11. Back and Neck
Injuries
Spinal Injuries

Pages 48-49
 Spinal Injuries
Signs and symptoms

• Suspect a spinal injury if a person:

• Has suffered a significant impact/fall
• Is unconscious after head injury
• Has fallen from a height and injured their
face or head
• Says their neck hurts
• Holds their neck in an odd position
Pages 48-49
 Spinal Injuries
Signs and symptoms cont’d
• Has any paralysis, loss of sensation or
numbness in their arms and/or legs
• Is confused or uncooperative
• Has lost bowel and bladder control
• Has difficulty breathing, with only small
movement of the abdomen
• Is lying on their back with arms stretched above
their head, or with arms and hands curled to the
chest

Pages 48-49
 Spinal Injuries
Conscious Casualty
Aims
• Prevent further injury
• Arrange urgent removal to hospital

Pages 48-49
 Spinal Injuries
Conscious Casualty
Treatment
• DO NOT MOVE the casualty from the position found
(unless in danger or becomes unconscious)
• Reassure casualty and tell them not to move
• Steady and support the head in the neutral position

Pages 48-49
 Spinal Injuries
Conscious Casualty
Treatment cont’d

•Keep the casualty’s head supported at this position

until help arrives

•Get a helper to arrange extra support

(e.g. rolled towels or blankets), around
the casualty’s neck and shoulders and
either side of the body – continue to
keep the casualty’s head steady.

Pages 48-49
 Spinal Injuries
Unconscious Casualty
Aims
• Resuscitate the casualty if necessary
• Maintain an open airway
• Prevent further damage to spine or spinal
cord
• Arrange urgent removal to hospital

Pages 48-49
 Spinal Injuries
Unconscious Casualty
Treatment
• Keep casualty still in the position they
were found
• Hold head still
• If the casualty is already on their back,
airway clear with no signs of bleeding or
vomiting, keep them in that position
Pages 48-49
 Spinal Injuries
Unconscious Casualty Treatment cont’d

• If risk of airway being blocked – place in

recovery position using “log roll”

Pages 48-49
 Spinal Injuries
REMEMBER
GOLDEN RULE

Casualty must not be moved unless

it is vital to do so

Pages 48-49
Emergency First Aid
for Children

End of Section