|
 It is
impossible to predict how badly someone's spine
has been injured before a doctor has evaluated
them. Therefore, everyone who is involved in an
accident that could have damaged their back is
treated as if they do have an injury to their
spine. Most people are familiar with the "backboards"
that paramedics use to transport accident victims,
but they are unaware of how important these devices
are in keeping the spine stable while they are
taken to the hospital.
Paramedics
and emergency response teams treat accident victims
according to strict protocols that have been developed
in order to save lives. These protocols are designed
to minimise the possibility that someone with
a spine injury could be injured while moving him
or her from the accident scene or while taking
them to a hospital. With these protocols, cervical
collars are placed on all accident victims, they
are secured on a back-board, and then taken to
a hospital for further evaluation.
Each year
in the United Sates, there will be approximately
50,000 new spinal cord injuries caused by accidents.
A spinal cord injury occurs when the cord itself
is crushed, stretched, or torn by the accident.
Unfortunately,
this is still an injury that can not be reversed
or cured by modern medicine. More than half of
these injuries involves the cervical spine, and
most of them happen to young men. These injuries
are incredibly devastating to the patient, their
families, and also to their communities. There
is currently a lot of research being done on ways
to minimise spine injuries by designing cars for
better safety, improving protective gear like
football helmets, and educating people about the
dangers of certain activities.
There is
also a lot of research being done on how to care
for someone immediately after they have had a
spinal cord injury, and also what kind of rehabilitation
is best for them.
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