Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with surf/diving injury, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Someone was injured while surfing, bodyboarding, or diving — hit head, neck pain, or unconscious in water.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Support head and neck. Call 112. CPR if not breathing. Do not move spine.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Person floating face-down after wave impact.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Complaint of neck or back pain after diving or wipeout.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Tingling in arms or legs after head impact with sand or board.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Shallow water diving and heavy surf impacts cause spinal cord injury. Movement can paralyze permanently.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — An injured surfer may drown because they cannot swim back due to neck injury.
Check the scene before you approach.
Treat all dive and big-wave head impacts as spinal injury until proven otherwise.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Signal lifeguard or call 112.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Approach from behind in water if trained — support head in neutral position.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Remove from water keeping head, neck, and body in straight line — log-roll if trained.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If not breathing — begin CPR while minimizing neck movement as much as possible.
When and how to get professional help.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stabilize spine during removal from water. Do not remove wetsuit unless needed for CPR.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Say: "Water sports injury — possible spinal injury. Person at [beach/location]. Conscious [yes/no]."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — All significant head and neck impacts in water need emergency spinal evaluation.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Delayed paralysis can occur if spine is moved after injury.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT sit the person up or bend neck to check breathing.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT dive into shallow water — "feet first, first time" in unknown depth.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT assume pain will pass — spinal injury symptoms can worsen with movement.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If someone can move their arms and legs after a dive accident, the spine is fine
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Incomplete spinal injuries may allow movement initially. Immobilization and hospital imaging are still required after head-first impacts.
Other scenarios in the same family.
Child drowning
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A child was found in water, is struggling in water, or was just pulled out and is not responding normally.
Boat capsize
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Your boat has overturned or is sinking and people are in the water.
Dam breach warning
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You receive warning that a dam may fail, gates are opening, or a wall of water is coming downstream.
Flood rising water
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Water is rising around your home, road, or vehicle — from rain, river overflow, or urban flooding.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Keep warm with towels. Monitor consciousness.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do not remove helmet or neck brace if present.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Further movement converts partial injury to complete paralysis.