Children restrained in a car seat (with a high back) may be immobilized and extricated in the car seat; however, once removed from the vehicle, the child should be placed in:

Children restrained in a car seat (with a high back) may be immobilized and extricated in the car seat; however, once removed from the vehicle, the child should be placed in:

• A. spinal immobilization
• B. backboard immobilization only
• C. no immobilization is needed
• D. a neck brace only

Answer: (A)

When there’s potential spinal injury after a crash, you keep the spine immobilized during and after extrication. A child may be safely removed from a car seat, but movement can still worsen an undetected spine injury. Therefore, once outside the vehicle, place the child in spinal immobilization with a cervical collar and secure them to a rigid backboard or immobilization device to keep the head, neck, and spine aligned during transport. A neck brace alone doesn’t control motion of the rest of the spine, and backboard alone without neck stabilization is insufficient. No immobilization is not appropriate given the injury risk.

When there’s potential spinal injury after a crash, you keep the spine immobilized during and after extrication. A child may be safely removed from a car seat, but movement can still worsen an undetected spine injury. Therefore, once outside the vehicle, place the child in spinal immobilization with a cervical collar and secure them to a rigid backboard or immobilization device to keep the head, neck, and spine aligned during transport. A neck brace alone doesn’t control motion of the rest of the spine, and backboard alone without neck stabilization is insufficient. No immobilization is not appropriate given the injury risk.