37.57. What should be done first when providing pre-medical aid to a casualty in a road traffic accident if a head injury is suspected before the arrival of the emergency medical team?
UAЩо потрібно насамперед зробити під час надання домедичної допомоги постраждалому в ДТП у разі підозри в нього травми голови до приїзду бригади екстреної (швидкої) медичної допомоги?
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns road safety and the actions a driver should take after a traffic accident, when it is important not only to call for help but also not to harm the victim before the arrival of medical personnel. In real accident situations, the driver or a witness often has to act quickly, and basic first aid skills help reduce the risk of complications, especially when a head or neck injury is suspected.
The question tests knowledge of the driver's duties in the event of involvement in a traffic accident according to the traffic rules, in particular the content of clause 2.10 "g" (take possible measures to provide first aid, call emergency medical services, and notify the police). The logic is simple: a head injury in a traffic accident is often accompanied by damage to the cervical spine, so the primary task before the arrival of the EMS team is to minimize any movement in the neck area to avoid vertebral displacement and potential spinal cord injury.
The correct option is to restrict movement in the cervical region: this is an action available to a non-medical person (calm the victim, ask them not to turn their head, do not try to seat them or "make them more comfortable," and, if possible, support the head in a neutral position). Covering with a thermal blanket may be useful for preventing hypothermia, but is not the first action in case of suspected head injury with risk of neck injury. The use of a cervical collar is already a method of fixation, which is not always at hand and requires correct application; in the format of the theoretical exam, the emphasis is on what every participant in a traffic accident can do first: prevent movement in the neck area and wait for professional immobilization by medical personnel.
Clause 1.10 (the term “Road Traffic Accident”)
Road traffic accident — an event that occurred during the movement of a vehicle, as a result of which people were killed or injured, or material damage was caused.
This term defines a situation in which the driver has special duties, in particular regarding the provision of first aid to victims.
Clause 2.10 (driver’s duties in case of involvement in a road traffic accident), subclause “g”
In case of involvement in a road traffic accident, the driver is obliged to: take possible measures to provide first aid to the victims, call emergency medical assistance, and also report the accident to the National Police.
This subclause directly checks the driver’s duty (as a participant in a road traffic accident) to provide first aid until the arrival of medical personnel; the specific action in the question (restricting movements in the cervical spine) relates to the content of first aid within the fulfillment of this duty.
Thus, the correct answer is “Restrict the victim’s movements in the cervical spine area,” considering that according to the Traffic Rules (clause 2.10 “g”), the driver is obliged to take possible measures to provide first aid to the victims before the arrival of emergency medical assistance, and in case of suspected head injury, the priority is to minimize movements of the cervical spine to avoid worsening a possible injury.
During a traffic accident, a head injury is very often combined with damage to the cervical spine. At the scene, we cannot know for sure whether there is a fracture or instability of the vertebrae, but we must proceed from the most dangerous scenario. That is why the first action before the arrival of emergency medical services should be aimed at preventing additional displacement in the neck area.
If the victim starts to turn their head, sit up, rise, or someone tries to "make them more comfortable," there is a risk that a possible injury to the cervical vertebrae or spinal cord may worsen. Such deterioration can occur not because of the impact itself, but due to careless movement afterward. Our main goal as first aid providers at this stage is not treatment, but preventing the condition from getting worse.
Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to limit any movement in the neck area as much as possible: calm the victim, ask them not to move their head, not to get up, and not to turn. If it is possible without risk to yourself or others, you should support the head in a neutral position, not allowing it to bend, extend, or turn, until the medics arrive, who will then use professional immobilization devices.
For example, if a person after a blow complains of dizziness, nausea, headache, or appears disoriented, it would be incorrect to "sit them up to make breathing easier" or sharply turn their head to examine them. It is more correct to ensure calm and immobility of the cervical spine, because at this moment the most dangerous thing is not visible abrasions, but a hidden spinal injury.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Limit the victim's movements in the cervical spine area," since in case of suspected head injury after a traffic accident, it is necessary first of all to prevent neck movements in order to avoid possible additional injury to the cervical vertebrae and spinal cord before the arrival of medics.