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Emergency Medicine & First Aid vocabulary · Trauma and Injuries

Cervical collar

Meaning in emergency medicine & first aid, with examples

nounCommon term

In emergency medicine & first aid, cervical collar means: A firm, adjustable collar fitted around the neck to limit movement when a neck or spinal injury is suspected.

In Turkish: boyunluk, servikal boyunluk

How it is used

Usually called a 'C-collar' or simply a 'collar'. Crews size, fit or remove a collar. Guidelines have moved away from collaring every trauma patient, and many services now use selective spinal motion restriction instead.

Example sentences

  1. She's in a cervical collar and on a scoop stretcher.

  2. The cervical collar stayed on until the CT scan was reported.

Common collocations

  • fit a cervical collar
  • C-collar
  • rigid collar
  • remove the collar
  • spinal injuryDamage to the bones of the spine or to the spinal cord inside them, which can cause pain, numbness, weakness or paralysis below the injury.
  • immobilizeTo keep an injured part of the body from moving, using a splint, sling, collar or stretcher, to reduce pain and further damage.
  • head injuryAny injury to the scalp, skull or brain, from a minor bump to a serious brain injury with bleeding or swelling inside the skull.
  • stretcherA frame with a padded surface, often on wheels, used to carry a sick or injured person who cannot walk.

More terms: Trauma and Injuries

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.