Seeking Emergency Medical Care for Neck Injury
Always using your seatbelt and wearing a helmet during sport activities can help prevent a serious neck injury. When a neck injury from falling or other accident causes significant neck injury symptoms, call 911 or seek immediate emergency care at Dignity Health St. John's.
Our experts provide around-the-clock emergency services if you experience a neck injury. Your healing and well-being is always our focus.
Easing Neck Injury Symptoms at Dignity Health St. John's
Your neck is a complex structure made of the spinal cord and discs, nerves, vertebrae, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Add in the esophagus, windpipe, and blood vessels, and you have all the parts that can be impacted by a neck injury.
Our team of caring ER doctors want you to get medical care right away for these signs of a serious neck injury:
- Paralysis
- Heavy bleeding
- Deformity or swelling
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Intense headache
- Not responsive or unconscious, even if only for a short time
Less severe signs of a neck injury are dizziness, pain, bruising, bleeding, weakness, and sore throat.
Neck Injury Treatment with Personalized Care
After seeing your doctor, you can take care of most minor neck injuries in the comfort of your home. Dignity Health St. John's emergency doctors encourage you to always call 911 for serious neck injuries. They offer these first aid tips for a serious neck injury:
- Do not take off a helmet.
- Do not move the person unless you need to get them out of harm’s way.
- Do not pick up a child.
- Keep the person as still as possible, and do not attempt to straighten the neck.
- Check pulse and breathing. Begin and continue cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until emergency medical help arrives.
Protect your neck when enjoying your favorite activities. If you have questions about neck injuries, Find a Doctor today at Dignity Health.