Should You Move a Person in an Emergency?

Should You Move a Person in an Emergency? A First Aid Guide

One of the most common questions people ask about first aid is whether they should move an injured person during an emergency. The answer is not always straightforward, and making the wrong decision can have serious consequences. In most situations, the general rule is to avoid moving an injured person unless there is an immediate threat to their life. However, there are specific circumstances where moving someone is not only appropriate but necessary to prevent further harm or death. At Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics, we train our students to assess emergency situations carefully and make informed decisions about when and how to move an injured person. This guide covers the key principles, techniques, and scenarios you need to understand to make the right call in a crisis.

The General Rule: Do Not Move the Person

In first aid, the default position is to avoid moving an injured person unless absolutely necessary. This principle exists because moving someone with certain types of injuries, particularly spinal injuries, can cause additional damage that may result in permanent paralysis or death. When a person has suffered trauma, there is always the possibility that the spine has been injured even if the person appears to be moving and talking normally.

Why Moving Can Be Dangerous

The spinal cord is a delicate bundle of nerves that runs through the vertebral column from the base of the skull to the lower back. It is responsible for transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body, controlling movement and sensation. If the vertebrae have been fractured or dislocated by trauma, the spinal cord may be partially protected by the surrounding bone and tissue. However, improper movement can shift the damaged vertebrae and cause them to compress or sever the spinal cord, turning a potentially recoverable injury into a permanent one. Beyond spinal injuries, moving a person with fractures, internal bleeding, or other serious injuries can worsen their condition. A broken bone that is relatively stable can become displaced during movement, potentially damaging surrounding blood vessels, nerves, or organs. Internal bleeding can increase if the person is jostled or moved roughly, and blood clots that have formed to slow bleeding can be dislodged.

When to Suspect a Spinal Injury

You should suspect a possible spinal injury any time a person has experienced significant trauma, including falls from height, motor vehicle collisions, diving accidents, impacts to the head or back, sports injuries involving collision or forceful impact, and any incident where the person was found unconscious with an unknown mechanism of injury. If there is any doubt about whether a spinal injury may be present, treat the situation as though one exists and avoid moving the person. Training in Standard First Aid teaches you how to properly assess and manage potential spinal injuries.

When You SHOULD Move a Person

Despite the general rule against moving injured people, there are critical situations where leaving them in place poses a greater risk than moving them. In these circumstances, the potential consequences of not moving outweigh the risks associated with movement. Your first aid training will help you recognize these situations and respond appropriately.

Immediate Danger to Life

The most clear-cut reason to move an injured person is when they are in a location that poses an immediate threat to their survival. This includes situations such as a burning building or vehicle where fire, smoke, or explosion risk is present, a scene where toxic gases or chemical spills are occurring, a structure that is at risk of collapse, rising floodwaters or other natural disaster threats, active traffic on a roadway where the person could be struck, and any scene where the person is exposed to ongoing danger such as electrical hazards or unstable terrain.

Access for Life-Saving Treatment

Sometimes a person needs to be moved to allow life-saving interventions to be performed. For example, if a person is found face-down and is not breathing, they must be carefully rolled onto their back to allow CPR to be performed. Similarly, if a person is in cardiac arrest on a soft surface like a bed, they may need to be moved to a firm, flat surface where chest compressions can be effective. If you have completed a CPR and AED course, you will be familiar with the importance of performing compressions on a hard surface.

Airway Management

An unconscious person who is breathing normally should be placed in the recovery position to maintain an open airway and prevent aspiration of vomit or other fluids. This requires carefully rolling the person onto their side, which constitutes moving them. In this case, the risk of airway obstruction and aspiration outweighs the risk of movement, making it an appropriate action. However, if a spinal injury is suspected, the jaw-thrust technique should be used to open the airway without moving the neck, and the person should only be rolled if vomiting makes it necessary.

How to Move an Injured Person Safely

When you determine that moving an injured person is necessary, the way you move them matters enormously. Proper technique can minimize the risk of aggravating existing injuries and protect both you and the person you are helping.

Emergency Drags

Emergency drags are techniques used to move a person quickly away from immediate danger. The clothes drag involves grasping the person’s clothing near the shoulders and pulling them along the ground while supporting their head and neck as much as possible. The blanket drag involves rolling the person onto a blanket, tarp, or sheet and pulling them by the material. The ankle drag is used as a last resort when speed is critical, involving grasping both ankles and pulling the person along a smooth surface. During any drag, try to keep the person’s body aligned and avoid twisting their spine.

The Recovery Position

The recovery position is used for unconscious people who are breathing normally. To place someone in the recovery position, kneel beside the person and position the arm nearest to you at a right angle to their body. Bring their far arm across their chest and hold the back of their hand against their near cheek. With your other hand, pull the far knee up so the foot is flat on the ground. While holding their hand against their cheek, pull on the far knee to roll them toward you onto their side. Adjust the top leg so the hip and knee are at right angles, and tilt the head back slightly to keep the airway open.

Log Roll Technique

The log roll is a technique used when a person with a suspected spinal injury must be moved, such as when they need to be rolled for airway management. This technique requires at least two people and ideally three or more. One person maintains manual stabilization of the head and neck, keeping them aligned with the torso at all times. The other rescuers position themselves along the person’s body and, on the count of the person controlling the head, roll the person as a single unit, keeping the spine aligned throughout the movement.

Watch: How to Safely Move an Injured Person

Protecting Yourself During Emergency Moves

Moving an injured person, especially an adult, can place significant physical demands on your body. Improper lifting and moving techniques can result in back injuries, muscle strains, and other problems for the rescuer. To protect yourself, use your legs rather than your back when lifting, keep the person close to your body, avoid twisting your torso, and get help from bystanders whenever possible. If the person is too heavy for you to move safely alone, wait for additional help unless the danger is truly imminent.

What to Do While Waiting for Help

If you have determined that the injured person should not be moved, there are still many important things you can do while waiting for emergency services to arrive. Keep the person still and calm, reassuring them that help is on the way. Monitor their breathing and level of consciousness continuously. Control any external bleeding by applying direct pressure with clean material. Keep the person warm by covering them with blankets or coats. If the person is conscious, ask them about their symptoms and any medical conditions or allergies they have, and relay this information to the paramedics when they arrive.

The Importance of Proper Training

The decision to move or not move an injured person in an emergency requires sound judgment, and that judgment comes from proper training and practice. Our courses at Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics provide hands-on practice with emergency movement techniques, spinal injury management, and scene assessment skills that will prepare you to make the right decisions under pressure. Whether you are looking for Emergency First Aid training, comprehensive Standard First Aid certification, or specialized Emergency Medical Responder training, we have courses to meet your needs. Visit our blog for more first aid guides, or browse our course locations to find training near you.