You Have Responded to a Local Pool for a Drowning

Multiple Choice

You have responded to a local pool for a drowning patient.Lifeguards have pulled the patient out of the pool prior to your arrival.You find a 22-year-old male patient unresponsive with agonal respirations and a weak carotid pulse.Bystanders state the patient was not using the diving board and was found in the shallow end.Why are cervical spine precautions necessary?

A) The patient may have suffered a spinal injury by jumping in shallow water.
B) The patient may have suffered a cervical spine injury when pulled out of the water.
C) The patient may have been using the diving board after all and injured his cervical spine.
D) The patient may have hit his head on the side wall while swimming laps.