Today, Jewel from the Mobile Fire Department came to show us how to use a backboard, the situations in which you would use one, and a step-by-step on how to use one for an emergency. This was a fun hands-on experience I got to have by being an assistant. Putting someone on a backboard isn't as simple as it may seem. There is a whole process to get someone safely on and transferred from it. First, a team of about four or five medical professionals assess the patient's condition and each is stationed at an area of the patient's body: one at the head, one by the feet, and one on each side of the hips. The one at the head is the captain who oversees the process that runs smoothly. They hold the head straight, called c-spine. Then, another paramedic takes a C-collar and secures it around the patient's neck to keep the spine together. C-collars are typically used for neck injuries and to hold the neck in place to prevent further injuries. On three, the patient is rolled to their side by the whole team, and the spine board is placed behind them. The team captain checks the spine to see if it's still aligned, and the patient is set and centered on the board. Next, a spider strap net is used to strap in the patient, in an order of top to bottom. To prevent the patient's head from moving, foam plastic blocks are placed on either side of the head and secured with a Velcro adhesive. Lastly, straps or tape are used to fasten the equipment around the head. Once the patient is secure, they are lifted, on the count of three, and transferred to their need of transportation and brought to the hospital. This was fun and one of my favorite guest speaker moments because not only did I get to experience it better and firsthand, but I also didn't have to take as many notes!
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