First Aid Presentation – Slide 3-1

F I R S T A I D T R A I N I N G

Casualty Management – Responsive Casualty

Head and Spinal Injuries

First Aid Presentation – © St John Ambulance Canada

Lesson 3 - Outline

• Emergency Scene Management• Responsive casualty• Head and spinal injuries• Shock

First Aid Presentation – Slide 3-2

History – head/spinal injuries

The history will help you determine the potential for a head/spinal injury:

Look for evidence at the scene

Listen to what the casualty and bystanders tell you about the incident

First Aid Presentation – Slide 3-3

Mechanism of Injury

• In each case, what do you know about the history?

• What information about the ‘mechanism of injury’ would lead you to suspect a head/spinal injury?

First Aid Presentation – Slide 3-4

Head and Spinal Injury

Signs and Symptoms

• Obvious head injuries

• Fluids from the ears

• Pain at the injury site

• Headache or dizziness

• Numbness, tingling or paralysis

First Aid Presentation – Slide 3-5

Head and Spinal Injury

Dangers of improper handling

• Life-long disability• Death

Principles of management

• Warn not to move• Support the head and neck• Reassure the casualty