Introduction: Spinal injury can lead to disability or even death in an individual. Due to these risks, prompt and careful transportation of the injured person to the nearest emergency center or tertiary facility is crucial in the case of such injuries. Purpose: To describe guidelines for managing a person with a spinal injury, to present the importance of helicopter emergency medical services in the care of individuals with spinal injuries in Slovenia, and to identify the advantages and disadvantages of transporting the injured person by helicopter compared to ground transportation. Methods: A descriptive research method was employed. A systematic literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, Cobbis, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. The literature used is no older than ten years, fully accessible, and written in Slovenian or English. Results: The systematic literature review included ten articles, comprising two systematic literature reviews, four retrospective studies based on collected intervention data, one descriptive observational study, one cross-sectional study, one cohort study, and one review article. Discussion and Conclusion: In Slovenia, the International Trauma Life Support protocol is utilized for pre-hospital care of the injured, and Advanced Trauma Life Support is used in emergency centers. Standardized protocols are essential for the coordinated functioning of the team, ensuring that all members recognize life-threatening conditions and address them appropriately. Helicopter emergency medical services are crucial for rescuing injured and ill individuals due to numerous advantages of helicopter use. It is important to note that helicopter emergency medical services and spinal injury management guidelines vary globally, considering the terrain, development of countries, and the education of individuals operating within these systems. However, helicopter transport is not always the best choice, and the decision on the type of transport for the accident victim depends on the specifics of each intervention.
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