A young intoxicated male patient cannot move his left arm and leg after diving into the shallow end of a pool and hitting the bottom head first. The EMT would recognize which of the following mechanisms as most likely responsible for this injury?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Compression occurs when a force is applied to the body that causes it to be crushed, compressed, or shortened. Diving headfirst into the shallow end of a pool would likely result in the head and neck being compressed, which could cause injury to the spinal cord and paralysis of the limbs below the point of injury. Rotation, distraction, and penetration are less likely to be responsible for these specific symptoms in this type of injury.

A Young Intoxicated Male Patient Cannot Move His Left Arm