A child who falls 12 feet into a manhole should receive which initial treatment?

• A. Apply c-collar
• B. Administer oxygen
• C. Start intravenous fluids
• D. Perform abdominal wrap

Answer: (A)

Protecting the cervical spine after a high‑energy fall is the priority. A child who has fallen 12 feet could have a neck injury even if there are no obvious signs yet, so immobilizing the head and neck immediately helps prevent further spinal cord damage during assessment and transport. Placing a cervical collar stabilizes the cervical spine and is the best initial action to reduce the risk of secondary injury.

Oxygen is important if breathing is compromised, and other interventions like fluids or abdominal wraps may be needed later based on the clinical picture, but they do not address the immediate danger of potential spinal injury.