dawnmedDawnMed Journal of Medical ScienceISVolume 2, Issue 4MultidisciplinaryEnglish2026NNY20261027Emergency MedicineHow Prepared Is the Public to Respond to Spinal Cord Injuries? A Cross-Sectional Study from Al-Ahsa, Saudi ArabiaEnglishY6774Hassan AlNasser¹EnglishNAbdul QadeerMemon²EnglishYAbdulazizAlmutawa¹EnglishYMohammedAlhawaj¹EnglishYAliAlghawi¹EnglishYAbdulaziz AlMuqahwi¹EnglishYFatimahAlakroush¹EnglishYMohammed AlHijji¹EnglishYAbdulmohsenAlkhars¹EnglishYSharefaAlshawi¹EnglishYSalehAlomari¹EnglishYYaqinAlali³EnglishY10.64039/djms.2026.2410Background: Cervical spine injuries can result in permanent neurological impairment, and inappropriate first-aid management may aggravate spinal cord damage. Public recognition of these injuries and knowledge of safe initial responses are therefore essential for preventing secondary harm.Aim: This study aimed to assess awareness, attitudes, and intended first-aid practices regarding cervical spine injuries among adults in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, and to identify the factors associated with these outcomes.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 389 adults residing in Al-Ahsa. Data were collected electronically using a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, awareness, attitudes, and intended first-aid practices. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses were used to summarize participants’ responses and identify associated factors.Results: The mean awareness score was 63.8%, and 60.4% of participants had good awareness (score ≥60%). The mean attitude and intended practice score was 87.7%, and 92.8% of participants had a positive score. The importance of early recognition in preventing complications was correctly identified by 84.1% of participants; however, only 39.3% recognized all listed complications. Most participants reported that they would maintain head, neck, and spinal alignment (94.3%), contact emergency services before initiating first aid (93.8%), and avoid unnecessary patient movement while seeking emergency assistance (93.6%). First-responder training was independently associated with higher awareness and more favorable attitude and intended practice scores (both PEnglishCervical spine injury; public awareness; first aid; intended practices; first-responder training; Saudi Arabia.https://dawnmed.com.sa/abstract?id=43References1619Margetis K, Das JM, Emmady PD. Spinal Cord Injuries. 2025 Jun 2. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Janand;ndash;. PMID: 32809556.Izzy S. Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury. 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