A lifeguard has fallen 10 feet from his chair and has deformity, swelling, and ecchymosis to her right lower leg. The leg also is rotated medially. Another lifeguard has taken and is maintaining manual in-line spinal stabilization. As your partner conducts the primary assessment, you should take which one of the following actions?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The lifeguard with the suspected leg fracture should have manual stabilization maintained until a traction splint can be applied. As the partner conducts the primary assessment, the other lifeguard should provide manual stabilization to the lower right leg to prevent any additional damage or movement to the injured area. Checking for pulses and motor ability would be important in a lower extremity injury, but manual stabilization should be prioritized in this scenario. Aligning the leg in a neutral position or readying a traction splint should also be done after manual stabilization is in place.

A Lifeguard Has Fallen 10 Feet from His Chair and Has