• Many spinal cord injuries can be prevented by using safe practices at work and at play.
• Check the depth of water before diving in, and examine the general area the general area for any obstacles before diving.
• When on the road, practice defensive driving and always wear a seatbelt. Never drink alcohol or take drugs and drive and don’t travel in a vehicle that is being driven by a person under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Remember to wear a good helmet while driving a two wheeler
• Always have a railing around the terrace to prevent falling down.

There is no cure for spinal injury there is only prevention…….

A 20 year old was the front seat passenger with her young, inexperienced boyfriend Sunil at the wheel in a Maruti 800. They were on their way home from a friends party where they had had a few drinks. Just a few streets from home, he lost control of the car coming round the corner and skidded in a power pole. Sonali’s had was whipped back and forth, damaging her spinal cord and leaving her a tetraplegic. She copes, but would give anything not to have accepted that lift.

How to help: Rescue Techniques

In all first aid care, the carer must take the following steps immediately:
If there is a threat to the patient's life, treat the dangers, Airway, Breathing and Circulation first.

• Danger: If present, remove the danger or remove the patient from the dangerous environment. 
• Response: Check the patient's conscious state. 
• Airway:Ensure the patient's airway is clear - remove vomit, blood, dentures, etc. 
• Breathing: Ensure the patient is breathing. 
• Circulation: Ensure that the patient's heart is beating and if there is major external 
  bleeding, control the bleeding by direct pressure. 

Remember: Following an accident, prevent secondary spinal injury by not moving the patientif spinal injuries are suspected unless there is a life threatening reason to do so (see above). Life threat takes precedence over possible spinal injuries.

• Do not move the patient
• Advice others not to move the patient
• Send someone to call an ambulance to attend
• Try and find out patients name and address
• Wait with the patient for the arrival of the ambulance officers

It is more common for spinal injuries to occur without life threat.

Possible Spinal Injury should be assumed in the following cases:

• Any car accident at greater than 75kmph. 
• Any pedestrian hit by a car at greater than 30kmph. 
• Any car accident where there is a car rollover or where a passenger has been thrown from the vehicle. 
• Any significant fall, including falls in the elderly. 
• Any shallow water diving or surfing accident. 
• Following helmet damage from a motorcycle accident. 
• Any unconscious trauma patient or significant neck or head injury. 
• Any penetrating injuries e.g. Gunshot wound to the spinal region. 
• Any trauma to the neck and back if associated with past spinal disease. 
• Any physical signs and symptoms associated with the spine e.g. the position the patient was found in, pain or tenderness around the spinal area.