ALA Spinal Injury Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary concern when managing a suspected spinal injury in the water?
- Preventing movement of the head and spine (Correct answer)
- Removing the victim from the water as quickly as possible
- Checking for breathing before stabilizing the neck
- Keeping the victim's arms at their sides
Correct answer: Preventing movement of the head and spine
The top priority with suspected spinal injuries is immobilizing the head and spine to prevent further damage to the spinal cord during the rescue.
Question 2: Which mechanism of injury most commonly causes spinal injuries in aquatic environments?
- Diving into shallow water (Correct answer)
- Slipping on a wet deck
- Being pulled through a drain
- Colliding with another swimmer underwater
Correct answer: Diving into shallow water
Diving headfirst into shallow water is the most common cause of cervical spinal injuries at aquatic facilities, often resulting in serious or permanent paralysis.
Question 3: What in-water technique does the ALA recommend to stabilize the head and neck of a suspected spinal injury victim?
- Head-splint technique (Correct answer)
- Cross-chest carry
- Rear approach carry
- Hip-and-shoulder support
Correct answer: Head-splint technique
The head-splint technique immobilizes the victim's head between the rescuer's forearms while keeping the face out of the water.
Question 4: When should a lifeguard suspect a spinal injury even if the victim is conscious and says they feel fine?
- After any diving or head-first water entry accident (Correct answer)
- Only when the victim reports neck pain
- When the victim is found face-down floating
- When pool depth is less than 3 feet
Correct answer: After any diving or head-first water entry accident
Any diving or forceful head-first entry warrants spinal precautions because adrenaline can mask pain and spinal cord swelling may not produce symptoms immediately.
Question 5: What is the correct procedure for removing a spinal injury victim from the water?
- Use a backboard with multiple rescuers to maintain spinal alignment (Correct answer)
- Lift under the arms and drag to the deck quickly
- Roll the victim onto their back and float them to the edge
- Allow the victim to climb out using the ladder independently
Correct answer: Use a backboard with multiple rescuers to maintain spinal alignment
A rigid backboard with multiple rescuers performing a coordinated lift is the standard method to maintain spinal alignment during water extraction.
Question 6: Which signal indicates a possible spinal cord injury in a conscious victim in the water?
- Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs (Correct answer)
- Rapid breathing and coughing
- Bluish coloring around the lips
- Inability to float independently
Correct answer: Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the extremities indicates possible spinal cord compression or injury and requires immediate spinal precautions.
ALA Spinal Injury Management 1
What is the primary concern when managing a suspected spinal injury in the water?