I was recently shopping at a Tennessee mall when a woman walking in front of me slipped on some wet flooring and fell. She was unable to get up and said that she was having trouble breathing. I didn’t know what to do. Was this a spinal cord injury?

We can’t answer with certainty, but inability to move and difficulty breathing are both signs of spinal cord injury. As Memphis premises liability attorneys, we do know that every time someone falls it is a good idea to have him or checked out medically. And if there are any signs or symptoms of spinal cord injury, this is a medical emergency.

As far as what you should have done, there are some standard procedures for helping a spinal cord injury victim until the EMTs arrive:

MOST IMPORTANT of all, do not attempt to move the injured person. By doing so, you could cause even more serious damage to the nerves in the spinal cord.
Someone should call 911 immediately.
Urge the person to remain perfectly still until help arrives.
If possible, carefully place heavy towels or another soft, thick item on each side of the neck to keep the head from moving.

Whenever someone is injured on public property, the manager or owner should provide documentation of the accident and be sure the injured person is properly cared for.

Finally, anyone who is injured on public property should contact a Tennessee premises liability attorney if there are any questions of who is at fault. Greer Injury Lawyers in Memphis represents slip and fall victims and can answer your questions. Call us today toll free at 888-470-9143 for more information.