Spinal Injury - Jaw Thrust

ProCPR

20 May 201302:25

Summary

TLDRThis video script instructs on the proper use of the jaw thrust maneuver for opening an airway in suspected head, neck, or spinal injuries. It emphasizes the importance of an open airway over spinal care in non-breathing victims. The script outlines signs of spinal injury and details the correct technique: placing hands alongside the face, fingers under the jawbone, and thumbs on cheekbones, then lifting the jaw and pressing down on cheekbones to open the airway without moving the head or neck.

Takeaways

🚑 Use the jaw thrust maneuver to open the airway for suspected head, neck, or spinal injuries without moving the head.
🤚 Perform the jaw thrust by lifting the jaw up with fingers along the jawbone, ensuring not to tilt the head back.
🔄 If the jaw thrust is ineffective, use the head tilt chin lift maneuver as an alternative to open the airway.
🆘 Prioritize an open airway over spinal injury care for non-breathing victims.
🤕 Suspect a spinal injury if the victim complains of neck or back pain, tingling in extremities, or weakness.
🏊‍♂️ Spinal injuries can result from diving into shallow water, head, neck, or back injuries, or being involved in vehicle accidents.
👁️ Look for signs such as bruising around the eyes and ears, blood or fluids in the ears and nose, and changes in consciousness.
💊 Symptoms of spinal injury include impaired breathing, vision, body movement, and severe pain in the head, neck, or back.
👐 To perform the jaw thrust, place hands firmly alongside the victim's face, with fingers under the jaw and thumbs on the cheekbones.
✅ Practice the jaw thrust maneuver to ensure proper technique and effectiveness in real-life situations.

Q & A

What is the jaw thrust maneuver used for?
-The jaw thrust maneuver is used to open the airway of a person suspected of having a head, neck, or spinal injury without moving or tilting the head back.
How do you perform the jaw thrust maneuver?
-To perform the jaw thrust, you lift the jaw up with your fingers along the jawbone, placing your fingers at the bottom of the jawbone and your thumbs on the cheekbones, then press down with your thumbs and lift up with your fingers.
Why is it important to open the airway in a non-breathing person?
-It is more important to have an open airway for a non-breathing person than to care for a suspected spinal injury because an open airway is essential for breathing and can be life-saving.
What are the signs that might indicate a spinal injury?
-Signs of a spinal injury include neck or back pain, tingling in the extremities, weakness, bruising around the eyes and behind the ears, blood or fluids in the ears and nose, changes in level of consciousness, impaired breathing, vision, or body movement, and severe pain or pressure in the head, neck, or back.
In what situations might you suspect a spinal injury?
-You might suspect a spinal injury if the victim complains of neck or back pain, was injured diving into shallow water, has an obvious head, neck, or back injury, was an occupant, rider, or pedestrian in a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or bicycle crash, or was injured from a fall greater than standing height.
What is the head tilt chin lift maneuver and when is it used?
-The head tilt chin lift maneuver is used to open the airway when the jaw thrust maneuver is not effective. It involves tilting the head back and lifting the chin to open the airway.
How do you know if the airway is properly opened using the jaw thrust?
-The airway is properly opened if you can see the back of the victim's tongue and their chest rises and falls with breathing.
What should you do if you're unable to open the airway with the jaw thrust?
-If you're unable to open the airway with the jaw thrust, you should try the head tilt chin lift maneuver to open the airway.
Why is it important not to move the head or neck during the jaw thrust maneuver?
-It is important not to move the head or neck during the jaw thrust maneuver to prevent further injury to the spinal cord in case of a suspected spinal injury.
How can you practice the jaw thrust maneuver safely?
-You can practice the jaw thrust maneuver on a mannequin or with a partner's consent, ensuring your hands are placed firmly alongside the face, your thumbs on the cheekbones, and your fingers under the jawbone, then press and lift as described.
What is the role of the jaw thrust maneuver in first aid for head and neck injuries?
-The jaw thrust maneuver is a critical first aid technique for maintaining an open airway in cases of suspected head, neck, or spinal injuries, helping to prevent further harm and potentially save a life.

Outlines

00:00

🚑 Jaw Thrust Maneuver for Airway Clearance

This paragraph introduces the jaw thrust maneuver, a technique used to open the airway of a person suspected to have a head, neck, or spinal injury without moving or tilting the head back. The maneuver is crucial when traditional head tilt-chin lift cannot be applied. It involves lifting the jaw up with fingers along the jawbone. The paragraph also outlines signs of spinal injury, such as neck or back pain, tingling in extremities, and weakness, and situations that might indicate such an injury. These include diving into shallow water, being involved in motor vehicle accidents, or falling from a height greater than standing. The signs and symptoms to look for include bruising, blood or fluids in the ears and nose, changes in consciousness, impaired breathing, vision, or body movement, and severe pain in the head, neck, or back. The detailed steps for performing the jaw thrust maneuver are provided, emphasizing the placement of hands and fingers, and the action of pressing down with thumbs and lifting with fingers to open the airway.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Jaw Thrust Maneuver

The Jaw Thrust Maneuver is a technique used to open the airway of an unconscious person without moving the head or neck. It is crucial for preventing further injury in cases where there is a suspected head, neck, or spinal injury. In the video, this maneuver is described as lifting the jaw up with fingers along the jawbone, which is essential for ensuring an open airway for non-breathing victims.

💡Airway

The airway refers to the passage through which air flows to and from the lungs. In emergency situations, especially when dealing with potential spinal injuries, maintaining an open airway is critical. The video emphasizes that it is more important to have an open airway than to worry about spinal precautions, highlighting the priority of airway management.

💡Head Tilt Chin Lift

The Head Tilt Chin Lift is an alternative method to open the airway if the Jaw Thrust Maneuver is not effective. It involves tilting the head back and lifting the chin to clear the airway. The video script mentions this as a secondary technique to ensure that the airway remains open for victims who are not breathing.

💡Spinal Injury

A spinal injury refers to damage to the spinal cord or the vertebral column. The video script provides signs to suspect a spinal injury, such as neck or back pain, tingling in extremities, or weakness. It is a serious condition that requires careful handling to prevent further damage, which is why specific maneuvers like the Jaw Thrust are taught to avoid unnecessary movement.

💡Neck or Back Pain

Neck or back pain can be an indicator of a potential spinal injury. The video script mentions it as a sign to suspect a spinal injury, which necessitates the use of specific techniques like the Jaw Thrust Maneuver to handle the victim without exacerbating the condition.

💡Tingling in Extremities

Tingling in the extremities, or the limbs, is a symptom that may suggest a spinal injury. The video script lists this as a sign that should raise suspicion of a spinal injury, indicating the need for careful and specific first aid procedures to manage the situation.

💡Motor Vehicle Crash

A motor vehicle crash is one of the scenarios where spinal injuries are common. The video script includes it as a context where one might suspect a spinal injury, emphasizing the importance of the Jaw Thrust Maneuver in such incidents to ensure the victim's airway remains open without causing further harm.

💡Bruising

Bruising, especially around the eyes and behind the ears, is mentioned in the video script as a sign of potential head or neck injury. It is an important visual cue for first responders to suspect a serious injury and to handle the victim accordingly, using the Jaw Thrust Maneuver to manage the airway.

💡Level of Consciousness

Changes in the level of consciousness, such as confusion or unresponsiveness, can indicate a severe injury, including to the head or spine. The video script lists this as a symptom to watch for, underscoring the need for immediate and careful airway management using the Jaw Thrust Maneuver.

💡Impaired Breathing

Impaired breathing is a critical sign that requires immediate attention in first aid scenarios. The video script mentions it as a symptom that may be present in victims with head, neck, or spinal injuries, highlighting the urgency of using the Jaw Thrust Maneuver to clear the airway and facilitate breathing.

💡Practice

Practice is emphasized in the video script as an essential part of learning first aid techniques like the Jaw Thrust Maneuver. It is important for first responders to be proficient in these skills to ensure they can effectively and safely manage emergency situations involving potential spinal injuries.

Highlights

Use the jaw thrust maneuver to open the airway without moving or tilting the head back.

Lift the jaw up with fingers along the jaw bone for the jaw thrust maneuver.

If jaw thrust is ineffective, use the head tilt chin lift maneuver to open the airway.

An open airway is more critical for a non-breathing person than caring for a suspected spinal injury.

Suspect a spinal injury if the victim complains of neck or back pain, tingling in extremities, or weakness.

Spinal injury may be suspected in cases of diving into shallow water, head, neck, or back injury, or being an occupant/rider in a vehicle crash.

Signs of spinal injury include bruising around the eyes and ears, blood or fluids in the ears and nose, and changes in consciousness.

Impaired breathing, vision, or body movement can indicate a severe spinal injury.

Severe pain or pressure in the head, neck, or back can be a symptom of spinal injury.

To perform the jaw thrust, place hands firmly alongside the victim's face without moving the head or neck.

Fingers should be placed at the bottom of the jawbone, and thumbs on the cheekbones for the jaw thrust.

Press down with thumbs and lift up with fingers to open the airway during the jaw thrust maneuver.

Practice the jaw thrust maneuver to ensure proper technique without causing further injury.

When performing jaw thrust, thumbs are placed at the top of the cheekbones, and fingers lift the jaw from underneath.

The jaw thrust maneuver is crucial for opening the airway without moving the head or neck in suspected spinal injury cases.

Proper execution of the jaw thrust is vital for maintaining an open airway in emergency situations.

The head tilt chin lift maneuver is a secondary method to open the airway if jaw thrust is not effective.