First Aid Collars

First aid collars are also known as cervical collars or neck braces. These are particular types of medical devices mainly used to support the neck of a person after injury. At times it is also applied to individuals who experience traumatic neck and head injury. However, at other times, they are used during the treatment of chronic medical conditions.

In many cases where individuals experience a traumatic neck or head injury, they have cervical fractures or partial damages. Such injuries put them at a higher risk of spinal cord injuries. This could exacerbate by the person’s movement and, at times, lead to death or paralysis.  One of the most common scenarios of such injuries would be where a person is suspected of having whiplash during a car accident. In such a case, the medical professional will place a neck collar until the X-rays are done to check injuries. In case of any serious injury, the professionals will put a hard cervical collar or other cervical collar types to protect the neck from further damage.

Types of first aid neck braces

If you are undergoing cervical spine surgery or have met a series of accidents or injuries in your neck, a neck support collar is one of the prominent medical tools you will need. Neck braces are the most common type of all spinal braces and are available in many kinds. These different types are meant to serve a different purpose. But in the core, they are responsible for stabilizing the neck after cervical spine surgery. They also provide non-surgical relief if you have experienced any injury from a strong hit or whiplash etc. In any such case, below are the types of first aid collars that the medical professionals will recommend to you.

The hard and soft cervical collars

Both soft and hard cervical collars hold importance in special cases. The soft cervical collars are highly flexible and made of polyurethane foam rubber. These collars are easy to wrap around the neck and are secured with Velcro. Soft cervical collars are usually used after wearing rigid braces and after when most of the healing is done by hard collars. Whereas hard collar looks similar to soft collars, they are made of harder polyethene material. These collars offer higher support and pain relief from a variety of spinal conditions, including cervical spondylitis.

Philadelphia Collars

This one stands among the stiffer foam collars consisting of 2 pieces that are attached on the sides with Velcro. The upper portion of the Philadelphia collar supports the lower jaw, and the brace extends down to cover the upper thoracic spine.  This type of collar covers more of the neck area as compared to the soft and hard collars. And with better coverage, it offers more significant restrictions on the range of motion. These collars are useful in limiting the movements and are often prescribed after cervical spine surgeries. They are also used to stabilize minor cervical spinal fractures to decrease pain.

The SOMI Collars

SOMI or stern-occipital mandibular immobilization device is a rigid cervical brace that positions the neck straight with the spine. These neck braces can support your neck by restricting movement in both neck and head. This limited mobility allows the damaged structure to heal faster. By construction, these braces have a front chest place along with bars to go over the shoulder.  They also have a removable chin piece and an optional headpiece to offer additional support if needed. These collars are used to treat severe neck injury and cervical pains due to arthritis.

The halo neck brace

These are the most rigid neck support devices available in the market. It secures the neck and head from moving. It can be necessary to immobilize the spine after undergoing primary cervical spine treatments or stabilize the fractures in the cervical and thoracic regions. These braces are a form of spinal traction that essentially pulls the spine in two different directions. This tension helps in reducing the abnormal curvature linked to certain spinal conditions like scoliosis. By construction, these collars have a metal ring that is secure to the head with the help of metal pins. The ring is connected to bars that, on the other hand, are attached to a heavy vest.