How to Rule Out a Spinal Cord Injury During First Aid

After you perform a primary and secondary survey of an injured person (see Related eHows), it is important to determine whether a spinal injury is involved. If you can rule out a spinal injury, then the person can be moved much more easily.

Instructions

• 1

  Ask the injured person his or her name, the location, the time of day and what happened. If the person cannot accurately answer at least the first three questions, he or she is not a "reliable patient," and a spinal cord injury cannot be ruled out.

• 2

  Look for any signs of drug or alcohol use. If any are present, the patient is not reliable.

• 3

  Check for "distracting injuries" - injuries painful enough to distract the injured person from spinal discomfort. If any are present, a spinal cord injury cannot be ruled out.

• 4

  Press lightly on one fingernail on each hand, and one toenail on each foot. Watch for the pink coloring to return within two seconds of the release of pressure. If it takes longer, it may be an indication of bad circulation resulting from a spinal injury.

• 5

  Have the injured person move his or her fingers and toes. If any motion is difficult or impossible, or if the person is abnormally weak, there may be a spinal injury.

• 6

  Squeeze the fingers and toes gently. If there is any numbness or tingling, the spine may be injured.

• 7

  Touch each of the injured person's vertebrae with moderate pressure, from the top of the neck to the bottom of the back. If any pain is present, there may be a spinal injury.