An EMR knows that spinal injury should be suspected in all trauma patients who are what?

Spinal injury should be suspected in all trauma patients who are unconscious because an unconscious state can indicate the possibility of a severe head or spinal injury. When a patient is unresponsive, it can be difficult to assess their neurological function or determine if they have sustained a spinal injury. Unconsciousness may result from mechanisms of injury that affect the spine, such as a fall, blunt force trauma, or penetrating injuries.

In these situations, there's a greater risk that the spinal cord might be compromised due to displacement of vertebrae or other injury to the spinal structures. Therefore, the necessity for spinal stabilization and cautious handling during examination and transport is heightened. This is crucial to prevent further harm, highlighting the importance of treating all unconscious trauma patients as potential spinal injury cases.

Conversely, being conscious, responsive, or alert can sometimes suggest that the spinal injury may not be present, but these conditions do not rule out the possibility. Therefore, the emphasis is on recognizing the potential severity of injuries in unresponsive patients, guiding preventative measures in emergency management.