MSNBC: EMT guest says protocol treatment for head bashing is neck brace

[grasswire]

The EMT that NBC called for informed opinion tonight said that medical protocol would have demanded that the victim of a head bashing be immobilized in a neck brace. He said a likely injury might be a concussion, brain swelling, or other affect that would require stabilization. He said the person might have trouble with mentation, might be unstable.

George's brother said he was barely conscious after Trayvon beat him up; it was such a brutal beating.

And yet 35 minutes later he shows no sign of treatment and no sign of impairment or injury. No neck brace, no difficulty of movement.

OH, one other thing mentioned tonight. A police expert of 28 years as a homicide detective remarked on the fact that George destroyed some evidence as he entered the police station. He wiped his shoes on a floor mat. He also said that the hands should have been bagged and the feet should have been bagged to preserve evidence.

[JDPriestly]

1. K&R (if we still do that).

[polly7]

2. Yes.

A head injury from trauma that may be severe enough to indicate concussion or brain swelling or bleed is treated as a potential spinal injury and immobilized. That the brother said he was barely conscious, and alluded to the severity of the supposed beating, would call for a c-spine collar. Decreased level of consciousness is the best indication of head injury, was he taken by ambulance to the hospital where they assessed him further and removed it, or was he never given one? Was the brother lying about his level of consciousness? It will be very interesting to see the pre-hospital reports if they're made public.

[MrModerate]

3. These particular police apparently weren't interested in preserving evidence . . .

As far as they were concerned, no crime had been committed, and bringing Zimmerman in cuffed was pro forma until they could process the paperwork to let him go.

It's not just the chief who's an incompetent. The officers on the scene have a lot of 'splainin' to do, too.