When assessing a patient ejected from a car after a high-speed crash, what is your first action?

In the context of assessing a patient ejected from a car after a high-speed crash, the first action should focus on preserving the patient's spinal integrity and preventing further injury, especially if there is a mechanism of injury that suggests potential spinal trauma.

Manually stabilizing the patient's head is crucial because a high-speed crash can lead to significant forces that may have caused spinal cord injuries. By stabilizing the head, you minimize movement of the cervical spine, which is essential in preventing secondary injuries during the initial assessment and before advanced care is given. This action helps ensure that if there is an existing spinal injury, it will not be exacerbated by unnecessary movement.

The other responses, while they may be important components of patient management, should come after establishing head stabilization. Assessing breathing effort is critical but should not precede stabilization, as the patient's airway and spinal protection must be ensured first. Administering high-flow oxygen is vital for supporting the patient’s breathing, particularly in trauma, but it is also secondary to stabilizing the head when there is potential spinal injury. The jaw-thrust maneuver is a specific technique used to open the airway without neck extension and is appropriate when a spinal injury is suspected; however, before performing this maneuver, head stabilization should be