When in doubt…. use the backboard

Ask me the answer to a scenario without telling me even what the question is.  I’ve got the answer. (smart ass i know…)

High flow O2, c-spine precaution and backboard.

OK, i’m being sarcastic but only a bit.  As we go thorough our training we are layering and layering new info on top of the basics we learned in the boring first few weeks when we didn’t have any fun stuff to fix.  Now that is coming back to bite us. Lots of stuff to fix and it seems all roads lead to c-spine, O2 and the backboard.

Pretty much any serious mechanism of injury that does bad things is going to make you want to put on a c-collar and long spine board.  Which means you will be using them a lot.  Once the backboard started showing up at class, you pretty much will be using it almost every night.  Perhaps this is to train us for the real world but once you get strapped to it, you aren’t coming up unless the doctor or the ALS medic says so.  Most of the time…Backboard = ride in a truck with lights on the roof while you star at clouds and eventually the roof of the ambulance.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a good thing and the backboard is your friend.  I’ve been on one and i’m very thankful that I had that ride on the backboard now that I look back on it but when you learn to use the backboard it seems I always got paired with someone who was my partner who wanted to analyze each and every strap to perfection over the course of much time.  If its me, we are (safely) getting you strapped down in a hurry and getting your butt to the ambulance fast.  Yes the straps will be evenly pulled down but there is no reason why you can’t get them on and tightened down in well under a minute.  Chop chop, lets go here folks!  One frustration you will find during OEC class is that we all learn at different speeds.  Some get it quick and some frankly need private one on one tutoring (while I’m not around).

So now you have two best friends.  Traction splits and backboards.  Wait until we post the trifecta and blog all about crevats.  They require their own chapter.  Crevats are like your doubly super best bestest friends.