Question

Roll a victim of spinal injury onto their side only for what reason?

a) To examine the back
b) To check the pulse
c) To clear the airway
d) To assess limb movement

Answer 1

A victim of spinal injury should only be rolled onto their side to clear the airway if necessary. Other assessments should be left to medical personnel due to the risk of further injury. A defective thoracic cage poses the greatest risk to the heart.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reason to roll a victim of spinal injury onto their side is to clear the airway if necessary. This is a crucial step to take only if the victim is experiencing a blocked airway and there are no other options available to ensure they can breathe. It's important to note that handling someone with a suspected spinal injury requires utmost caution to prevent further injury. Thus, rolling a victim onto their side should not be done to examine the back, check the pulse, or assess limb movement, as these actions do not justify the risk of potentially exacerbating a spinal injury. Medical personnel will carefully assess these aspects once the immediate threat to life, such as a blocked airway, has been addressed. If a defective thoracic cage were present, the heart would be most at risk as it is located within the thoracic cavity and relies on the structural integrity of the cage for protection.