The neck is a part of the body that people often take for granted until it sustains some kind of injury. After an emergency--such as a fall (the leading cause of neck injury) or a car accident--the neck needs to be braced to prevent further damage to its soft tissues.
Diagnosis
When a part of the body is injured, such as in a fall or car accident, blood rushes to it and causes swelling. Swollen body parts are also often warm, as well as unusually enlarged by the extra blood--two key signs to look for. If the patient is still conscious, ask him if it hurts when you gently move his head. If there is neck pain, or it seems to be swollen or definitely injured, it's probably best to brace it for safety's sake.
If he doesn't feel any neck pain and his neck doesn't seem particularly swollen, he still may not be out of the woods--he could have a concussion or other serious injury, or his arms or legs may be broken. If it was a serious fall, look the injured person over more carefully before letting him stand up.
Bracing
Making a brace requires some sort of padding and some sort of binding. A towel, a handful of scarves, a blanket or shirt could all be used to wrap around the neck. Wrap loosely, making sure the injured person still can breathe and has circulation. Wrap this padding thickly, so that the neck is held in place by it, and the head is held steady.
Get about 2 feet of binding--rope or shoelaces will suffice. If the patient can hold the towels, have him do so when you go for the binding; if not, hold the towels with one hand and tuck the rope under your fingers. Tie the rope around the neck and towels, but don't garrote your patient--he should be able to breathe normally, but not move his head. He may have trouble swallowing, in which case you can likely loosen the rope very slightly.
Next Steps
If the injured person needs a neck brace, he should almost certainly see a doctor immediately. A medical professional should sign off on the brace before you allow the patient to wear it with any degree of permanency. A brace should remain on the neck long enough to allow the soft tissues to heal, but it is a good idea to work some muscles as long as this does not cause pain.
Tags: injured person, around neck, brace should, hold towels, move head, neck pain, part body