Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee of New York City
Prehospital Basic Life Support Protocols
Copyright January 1996 (8/96)

421 HEAD AND SPINE INJURIES

Establish and maintain airway control while stabilizing the cervical spine.

NOTE:DO NOT USE A NASOPHARYNGEAL AIRWAY IN PATIENTS WITH FACIAL INJURIES OR IF SEVERE HEAD INJURY HAS OCCURRED.

Utilize the Rapid Takedown technique if the patient is standing.

Administer oxygen.

Monitor breathing for adequacy.

NOTE:MONITOR BREATHING CONTINUOUSLY. BE ALERT FOR SIGNS OF HYPOXIA AND/OR INCREASING RESPIRATORY DISTRESS.

Control external bleeding.

Immobilize the patient's head and spine with a rigid collar and appropriate immobilization device.

Assess and monitor the Glasgow Coma Score. (See Appendix E.)

If the Glasgow Coma score is less than 8, the adult patient must be ventilated at a rate of at least 20 ventilations per minute and the pediatric patient must be ventilated at a rate of at least 25 ventilations per minute.

Assess for shock and treat, if appropriate. (See Protocol #415.)

Transport. (See Appendix F.)

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