In La Plata County, Colorado, emergency services were pressed into action following a severe incident at a local gymnasium involving a 68-year-old male who experienced a traumatic fall. Responding to the scene, emergency medical personnel from the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District provided critical care to the injured individual.
The accident transpired as the gentleman descended the bleachers, took a misstep, and fell approximately 10 feet, landing head-first on the gym floor. Witnesses stated that he briefly lost consciousness but showed no signs of convulsions. Arriving on the scene, EMS personnel discovered the individual alert, albeit suffering from intense neck pain and a significant laceration to the forehead.
With clinical expertise, the team stabilized the patient’s cervical spine and managed the bleeding. A detailed assessment indicated that while there were no deformities, the patient experienced pinpoint sharp pain upon palpation. Fortunately, his motor functions and sensations were intact, and there was no numbness or tingling reported.
The emergency crew, upon recognizing the potential for a cervical spine injury, swiftly immobilized the patient using a vacuum mattress and cervical collar. They stabilized his condition before transporting him emergently to a nearby hospital equipped to handle Level III trauma cases. In transit, they administered pain relief and anti-nausea medication as they monitored his vitals.