The spine is one of the essential organs of our body. It is necessary because it is a group of nerves that serves as a messaging center between the brain and parts of the body. The bones, muscles, tendons, and other tissues that reach from the base of the skull to the tailbone are called our spine.
There are many things that can cause a spinal injury. Catastrophic falls, motor vehicle accidents, sports, or infections that cause an abscess on the spinal cords can be the main reasons you get your spine injured. Here are some essential tips for you in case you or a loved one gets a spinal injury.
1. Call for Help
The first thing you need to do if someone gets their spine injured is to seek professional help. Call 911 or emergency medical help so that they can help you to get to the hospital in time. You do not know how to act in this situation, so it is best for you to keep calm and wait.
As an ordinary person, you do not know anything about the treatment of an injured spine. So it would be better for you to leave it to professionals. Though there might be some things you can do that can comfort the injured person.
2. Stay Still
As discussed above, you might not know anything about this injury, so it is best for you not to move the patient. Stay still and wait for an ambulance or a professional medical helper to arrive so they can have a better look and understand the injury.
Place heavy towels or rolled sheets on both sides of the patient’s neck. You can also try to hold their neck and head to prevent any movement. Moving in such a scenario can make the pain and the injury even worse.
3. Avoid Moving Their Head and Neck
As you already know, the slightest movement can worsen the pain and injury, so it is necessary for you to keep their head and neck still. Please provide them with as much first aid as possible without moving or rotating their body.
If a person shows no sign of breathing or moving, it would be better for you to perform CPR on them. You have to be careful as you cannot tilt their head back to open the airway. Instead, gently grasp their jaw, lift it forward, and begin chest compressions.
Medicines cannot heal a spinal injury. Surgery has to be performed. Try to shift the person to the best medical institute for spine surgery with the help of an ambulance.
4. Do Not Roll Alone
If a person is vomiting or choking on blood because of the injury, you need to rotate them so they do not have difficulty breathing. You need at least one more person to turn the body to keep the neck, head, and spine aligned while rolling the person.
A spinal injury may also affect a person’s brain as they are both connected, so they might face difficulty with memory, communication, and concentration. After the surgery, you must help the person with these problems using mental exercises.
