What is the procedure for checking for spinal cord damage in an unconscious patient?
Official USCG Answer & Rule Citation
Correct Answer: Option A — Prick the skin of the hands and the soles of the feet with a sharp object to check for reaction
For an unconscious casualty, testing sensory pathways via a sharp stimulus on the hands and soles evaluates neurological integrity below the level of the brainstem, identifying potential spinal cord damage without requiring patient verbal response.
Advertisement