Spine Boarding

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Jewel Hunter with the Mobile Fire Department

We had Jewel Hunter come speak to us today about what she would do if she got called to an accident and the patient needed to be spine boarded. This is designed to help stabilize the patient so they can be taken to the emergency room. It also helps provide support for the spine so when moving the patient you do not cause more problems. It is a very specific procedure in how you have to load the patient on the board. First someone rushes over and puts there hands on the patients head to stabilize the head. This person would be considered the "team leader." After that another person will come over and make sure the patient is alert by checking that they can wiggle their fingers and toes. After that two more people would come over and help load the patient on the board, you do this by rolling the patient on there side and then rolling them onto the board. After this someone then puts a C-Collar around there neck which helps stabilize their head in place. After their head is stabilized, you then put the Spider Straps on top of them and strap them to the Spine Board. Once all of this is done you lift the patient by grabbing the board and you can carry them to wear they need to go.