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Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Someone was injured while surfing, bodyboarding, or diving — hit head, neck pain, or unconscious in water.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
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.
Scene hazards: Spinal injury, Drowning while injured, Rip current, Second wave impact
Treat all dive and big-wave head impacts as spinal injury until proven otherwise.
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.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Keep warm with towels. Monitor consciousness.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do not remove helmet or neck brace if present.
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.
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.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If someone can move their arms and legs after a dive accident, the spine is fine
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Incomplete spinal injuries may allow movement initially. Immobilization and hospital imaging are still required after head-first impacts.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Further movement converts partial injury to complete paralysis.
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.