Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

8 Muscle, Bone and Joint Injuries

activity and seek medical aid. If the patient is unconscious, protect their c-spine and monitor the airway and breathing continuously. If you leave to summon help, carefully place the patient in the recovery position, maintaining the head and neck in-line with the body. Tell the patient to seek full medical assessment immediately as serious life threatening injuries may develop.

Signs and Symptoms Concussion • Unconscious or altered level of consciousness • Memory loss, usually short-term • Shallow breathing, difficulty breathing • Nausea, vomiting • “Seeing” stars • Headache

Carefully assess the mechanism of injury and the force involved. Carefully assess c-spine and breathing. Concussion can be a serious injury. Advise the patient of the signs and symptoms of concussion. A person who has experienced a blow to the head, consistent with concussion, should be encouraged to discontinue

301

www.preohs.com