What are two signs or symptoms of a spinal injury?

Prepare for the New Zealand Surf Lifeguard Award Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Two signs or symptoms of a spinal injury include difficulty with walking or balancing and extreme back pain. When someone sustains a spinal injury, the spinal cord may be affected, leading to a range of physical deficits. Difficulty with walking or balancing can indicate that the nerve pathways involved in motor control are compromised due to injury. This may occur if there is swelling, inflammation, or direct damage to the spinal cord that disrupts signals from the brain.

Extreme back pain is also a common symptom associated with spinal injury. This pain could be a result of trauma to the muscles, ligaments, or vertebrae in the back, signaling potential damage that might be affecting the spinal structures. Recognizing these symptoms is crucial for swift and appropriate action in emergency situations.

In the context of the other symptoms listed in the options, while nausea, dizziness, loss of sensation, and headaches can be associated with various medical conditions, they do not specifically indicate a spinal injury as clearly as difficulty walking or balancing along with extreme back pain. Therefore, the combination highlighted in the selected answer stands out as more directly relevant to the identification of a spinal injury.

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