A child fell into a 1.7-meter-deep auto repair pit. An emergency medical team transported the victim to the Khust Hospital on a special immobilization board.
A serious accident involving a teenager occurred in the Khust district. Due to carelessness, a 12-year-old boy fell into an open auto repair pit about 1.7 meters deep, landing directly on his back.
The “Transcarpathian Regional Center for Emergency Medical Care and Disaster Medicine” reported on the provision of emergency care and the evacuation of the injured child.
Medical response and evacuation on a rigid stretcher
The “103” dispatch center received an urgent call reporting that a child had fallen from a height. The Khust Emergency Medical Service Team No. 1000, led by Dr. M. O. Shcherbina, immediately responded to the specified address:
- Condition of the victim: During the initial examination, the medical team made a preliminary diagnosis of a thoracic spine injury. Fortunately, the teenager was fully conscious, retained sensation in his limbs, and was able to move his arms and legs;
- Standard care: The doctors administered pain relief and fully immobilized the body;
- Transportation: Given the high risk of vertebral displacement or internal injuries, the boy was carefully secured on a special rigid spinal board and transported by specialized ambulance to the Khust Central Hospital named after O. P. Vitsynsky for a comprehensive X-ray and CT scan.
Advice from emergency medicine specialists: first aid for back injuries
Emergency room doctors emphasize that a fall, even from a low height, carries the hidden risk of serious complications for the musculoskeletal system and the spinal cord. The fact that the limbs remain movable does not guarantee the absence of microfractures or compression fractures.
Guidelines for bystanders until the ambulance arrives:
- It is strictly forbidden to lift, sit up, or turn the victim on your own unless there is an immediate threat to life (fire, collapse);
- Ensure the child remains completely still in the recovery position, without moving the neck or back;
- Immediately call emergency medical services at 103, clearly informing the dispatcher of the height of the fall and the patient’s age.
Source: Transcarpathian Regional Center for Emergency Medical Care and Disaster Medicine (103 Transcarpathia).
