Page 117 - Participant Manual

The general rules for applying a splint are the same no matter what type of splint you use:

■ Splint the body part in the position in which you joints above and below the bone in the splint. If
found it. Do not try to straighten or move the you are not sure what is injured, include both the
body part. bones and the joints above and below the injured
area in the splint.
■ Make sure the splint is long enough to extend
above and below the injured area. If a joint is ■ Check for feeling, warmth and color beyond the
injured, include the bones above and below the site of injury before and after splinting to make
joint in the splint. If a bone is injured, include the sure that the splint is not too tight.

Head, Neck and Spinal Injuries

Traumatic accidents (such as falling from a height,
getting hit by or being thrown from a vehicle, or
sustaining a blow to the head) can cause head, neck or
spinal injuries. Head, neck or spinal injuries are serious
because they may involve the spinal cord or the brain.
Depending on the nature and severity of the injury, the
person may be left with a permanent disability (e.g.,
traumatic brain injury, paralysis). Some head, neck or
spinal injuries are fatal.

■ Spinal cord injuries can result from trauma that
causes one or more vertebrae (the bones that
surround and protect the spinal cord) to break. The
sharp bone fragments can press into the soft tissue
of the spinal cord, damaging it. Damage can also occur if the injury causes the soft tissue of the spinal
cord to swell, compressing it against the hard bone that surrounds it. Depending on the location and
severity of the spinal cord injury, the person may develop paralysis (the loss of movement, sensation or
both) in body parts below the level of the injury. Paraplegia is paralysis that affects both legs and the
lower trunk. Quadriplegia is paralysis that affects both arms, the trunk and both legs.

■ Brain injuries can occur as a result of a blow to the head, a penetrating injury to the head (such as a
bullet wound), or exposure to acceleration-deceleration forces that cause the head to snap forward and
then back. A blow to the head can lead to a concussion (a traumatic brain injury that alters the way
the brain functions; Box 6-3), a brain contusion (bruising of the brain tissue) or a brain hematoma
(bleeding into the space between the brain and the skull). Acceleration-deceleration forces, such as can
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occur with a motor-vehicle collision or a fall from a height, can lead to diffuse axonal injury (tearing of
nerves throughout the brain tissue).

Causes of Head, Neck and Spinal Injuries

Many different types of accidents can lead to head, neck or spinal injuries. You should especially consider the
possibility of a head, neck or spinal injury if the person:

■ Was hit by a vehicle, thrown from a moving ■ Was injured as a result of a fall from a height
vehicle, or was the occupant of a vehicle involved greater than his or her own height.
in a motor-vehicle collision.
■ Was participating in a sport and sustained a
■ Was injured as a result of entering shallow water blow to the head or collided with another player,
headfirst. the ground or a piece of equipment.

Chapter 6 Traumatic Injuries | 108 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual Chapter 6 Traumatic Injuries | 109 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual