Red Cross Lifeguard Practice Test

If a victim in the water with a suspected spinal injury is found to be not breathing, what should you do next?

1. Provide 2 minutes of in-water ventilations

2. Use modified spinal backboarding to remove

3. Use the Extrication Using a Backboard technique

4. Remove the victim with spinal backboarding

The correct answer is: Use the Extrication Using a Backboard technique

When a victim in the water is suspected of having a spinal injury and is not breathing, using the Extrication Using a Backboard technique is the appropriate response because it prioritizes the victim's safety while managing their suspected spinal injury. This technique allows you to stabilize and support the victim's head, neck, and back during the extraction process, minimizing the likelihood of further injury. It is critical to ensure that the victim remains immobilized as you remove them from the water, as movement could exacerbate a spinal injury. The use of a backboard provides a solid platform to keep the victim's spine aligned and protected during the transition from water to land. This technique takes into consideration both the victim's compromised airway and the suspected injury, making it the safest option in this emergency scenario. In contrast, using in-water ventilations would not address the spinal injury effectively and could lead to further risk of injury. Similarly, providing two minutes of ventilations before addressing spinal stabilization may compromise the victim's condition. The suggestion to use modified spinal backboarding or to remove the victim without proper immobilization risks exacerbating the suspected injury by failing to adequately secure the spine during the rescue process.