You arrive at a motorcycle crash. The patient is prone, not wearing a helmet. First action?

• A. Evaluate the status of his airway.
• B. Stabilize his head manually.
• C. Apply a cervical collar.
• D. Log roll him to a supine position.

Answer: (B)

In any trauma scenario where a spinal injury could be present, keeping the head and neck from moving is the top priority. A motorcycle crash with a prone, helmetless patient carries a high risk of cervical spine injury, so you want to prevent any rotation, flexion, or extension of the neck before you do anything else. Stabilizing the head manually in a neutral, inline position creates a stable alignment of the spine and buys time to assess and manage the airway safely without risking further injury. Once the head and neck are held steady, you can proceed with other steps—such as applying a cervical collar and then log-rolling only when it’s necessary for airway management or other interventions—without allowing movement that could worsen a spinal injury. Moving to assess airway or attempt a log roll before securing manual stabilization could cause additional harm by compromising the spine.