If you suspect someone has a spinal injury, what should you do?

When a spinal injury is suspected, keeping the person still and avoiding any movement is crucial. This is because any movement can exacerbate the injury, potentially causing further damage to the spinal cord, which could lead to paralysis or other serious complications. By maintaining stability, you minimize the risk of worsening any existing injuries.

In situations involving spinal injuries, it is important to avoid encouraging the person to move, as this could lead them to shift into a position that further endangers their condition or increases pain. Furthermore, while calling for help is essential in managing emergencies, and assessing spinal alignment may be relevant in other contexts, the immediate priority is to maintain the individual's stability until professional help arrives. Therefore, keeping the individual still is the best approach in suspected spinal injury cases.