EMT Lesson Plans

6.09 Trauma Skills I Station: Supine Immobilization / Backboarding Instructor Guidance

Objectives: (this station used legacy/traditional longboard technique) 1. Demonstrate how to perform a jaw-thrust maneuver on a patient with a suspected spinal injury. (pp 907– 908) 2. Demonstrate how to perform manual in-line stabilization on a patient with a suspected spinal injury. (pp 908– 909, Skill Drill 26-1) 3. Demonstrate how to immobilize a patient with a suspected spinal injury to a long backboard. (pp 909–911, Skill Drill 26-2) 4. Demonstrate how to apply a cervical collar to a patient with a suspected spinal injury. (pp 917–918, Skill Drill 26-5) 5. Demonstrate the assessment of neurovascular status. (pp 1015–1017, Skill Drill 29-1) Setup: You will need your cohort bag. You will also need a Longboard Kit that includes: - Longboard with 3 or more straps - Collar - Foam head immobilizer with tape rolls Deployment: DO NOT LECTURE – your students should be working hands-on within 5 minutes of arriving Deploy your students in one team – one student should be patient, the rest rescuers. The patient is deemed stable during the primary assessment. The students should perform all skills steps on the Long Board skills sheet. Please note the following: - DO NOT have them utilize anything but the standardized equipment. - The only required strap order is BODY > HEAD. Secure the body with two straps crossed over the chest and one over the hips. An additional strap (or a cravat) can secure the legs if available. - Continue rotating students until time is up. Do not stop applying the device even if you think the ‘Students got it”. - You can have the students lift the board at waist-height, but DO NOT have them do any dangerous procedures such as having them spin the board upside down Debriefing: Give students feedback on the application of the device after it is complete. A good long board will be: - Neutral (the patient will be in neutral position in the device) - Midline (the device will be centered on the body) - Straps securely restraining the heavy parts of a patient (shoulders and hips)