If a person with suspected spinal injury must be moved for safety, what is the proper technique?

• A. Move them by lifting under arms only; no alignment.
• B. Drag them by feet to safety.
• C. Turn them onto side without alignment.
• D. Use the log-roll method with several rescuers, maintaining head/neck alignment and immobilizing with a cervical collar if trained.

Answer: (D)

When moving someone with a suspected spinal injury, the priority is to keep the spine in a neutral, aligned position and immobilize it during any transfer. The best approach is the log-roll technique carried out by several rescuers, with careful coordination to maintain head and neck alignment and immobilize the spine using a cervical collar if you’re trained to do so. This method minimizes twisting or bending of the spine as you move the person onto a backboard or to a safer location, reducing the risk of worsening a spinal injury.

In practice, one person stabilizes the head and neck to keep the spine straight, while the others roll the body as a single unit so the spine stays aligned throughout the move. If a cervical collar is available and you have training, applying it helps lock the neck in place before or during the transfer. Avoid lifting or dragging by the arms or feet or turning the person onto a side without maintaining alignment, because these actions can create unsafe twists or bends in the spine and potentially injure the spinal cord.