SPINAL INJURIES

by J. Scott Davis

"From The Eyes Of An Experienced Surf Beach Lifeguard"

As you lifeguards take to the stands and prepare for the upcoming busy beach season, allow me to emphasize the dangers of a spinal injury and the importance of properly identifying it's various signs and symptoms. Proper first aid of a spinal injury may prevent a victim from suffering permanent paralysis or even save their life. I encourage eveyone to thoroughly research spinal injury first aid. Know your agency's emergency procedures in response to this injury and discuss it with your peers, colleagues and supervisors.

Broken necks at the beach are often caused by body surfing where a swimmer is driven head first into the sand by the wave or from diving into shallow water head first and hitting the bottom. These collisions can force the neck and back into unnatural positions where serious injuries are sustained.

Why the emphasis on neck injuries? Well, the chips and bone fragments from a broken neck can penetrate and sever one's spinal cord causing permanent paralysis or even death. Remember actor Christopher Reeve? After falling from a horse and breaking his neck, he was permanently paralyzed and unable to even breathe on his own.

Take note that a victim may have a broken neck, yet could still be capable of walking if the broken bone(s) have not damaged the spinal cord. If this victim moves the head and back or is hit again, it can still cause permanent paralysis. Signs of a spinal injury can include things other than paralysis, but they require immediate attention. They include:

~ Bruises, scrapes or cuts to the head or face; ~ Pain or tenderness in the neck or back; ~ Partial or complete paralysis, difficulty breathing; ~ Weakness in the arms and/or legs; ~ Numbness and tingling in the arms and legs.

As you observe these symptoms on your victim, you will suddenly be pressed into service. Your actions could save this victim from lifelong paralysis. However your agency is set up for calling an ambulance to arrive on the scene to aid the victim, YOU need to act and notify Emergency Medical Services (EMS) immediately. If you happen upon this type of injury during your off duty hours, call 9-1-1. Treat neck injuries as life threatening emergencies - they are! Call in the paramedics and EMS professionals ASAP!

You must advise the victim to hold their neck still (instruct them not to move his/her head). You should stabilize their neck immediately and provide it with support. A rescuer needs to remain at the victim's head holding either side with firm gentle pressure.

Know your agency's emergency procedures!

For safety precautions and prevention, one should never dive headfirst into water where they don't know the depth or what other structres may be hidden close to the surface. Don't dive downward into oncoming waves. Don't stand with your back to oncoming waves. Don't jump or dive from a cliff, pier, jetty or bridge. Avoid bodysurfing, bodyboarding or surfing straight "over the falls." Ride the shoulder! In a "wipeout," land as flat as possible with your hands out in front of you. While bodysurfing, keep an arm out in front of you to protect your head and neck. When in doubt, don't dive, play it safe.

Considering my many years of experience in ocean rescue from surf beach lifeguarding to service in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Rescue Swimmer, why my extra concern for neck injuries? Well, this form of injury also "hits close to home." You see, I myself was a victim of a broken neck when I was in high school. In addition, my grandfather once violated normal safety precautions and dove into a river before inspecting what he was diving into. The river area where he dove into was far to shallow and he collided with the bottom. Consequently, he suffered a broken neck and was temporarily paralyzed (but eventually regained movement and healed completely back to normal). We were both fortunate to have not suffered permanent paralysis.

Be prepared to perform professionally!

"Spinal Injuries" by J. Scott Davis

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