back board

[frumpy]

Just wondering who carries back boards with them on typical outings. I can get one for free but don't know if it would be worth having. The biggest issue I have is if I came across someone with a neck/back problem I would just make sure they don't move (until someone qualified arrives to handle the situation). But I guess if SHTF and theres no other choice its good to have and doubles as a stretcher.

thoughts?

[Hltoppr]

Didn't see this for awhile. I have a plastic backboard that I will throw on the roofrack for longer trips, or where I'm the designated medic....

Lightweight and easy to strap to the roof, so I figure why not?

-H-

[frumpy]

It's still sitting in my office at work as I can't really justify it. I think it's too big of a risk as I don't have the proper trainning. I think if anything a fold up stretcher would be my best bet.

[bcrez]

I think you're right... If you're not trained in spine immobilization, attempting to transfer someone to a backboard could do more harm than good. Go get some first-aid training, you wont regret it.

[frumpy]

I do have first aid training and thats mainly why I decided against it. Guess I'll have to keep my eyes open for a good deal on a compact stretcher.

[yyc_ranger_4x4]

A stretcher will not provide the spinal motion restriction like a backboard will. A stretcher is good for sleeping on, and transporting people who have breaks and fractures, a back board is good for everything.

For a backboard to function properly though, you also need the required straps, headblocks, and padding. I might be tempted to carry one strapped to the underside of my 1/2T canopy on long isolated trips, but other than that I don't think it would be of much use. Stokes baskets can work way better, and they even make carrying a bunch of gear easier with a couple guys.

[DarkHelmet]

There are a few big issues with carrying a backboard on an expedition type trip in addition to just the difficulty of transporting the board itself (not hard if you have a roof rack I guess).

First is having the proper training to use it.

But second, and equally as important in an expedition, back country, wilderness context (all deal with extended transport times) is the issue of back boards actually doing more harm than good. Spend much more than 30-45 minutes on a rigid back board and you'll start developing pressure ulcers (similar to a bed sore). It is extremely uncomfortable for the patient, and once they are on a back board they really shouldn't be released until they are cleared by imaging at a hospital. You also have to deal with an extended transport time in which the patient is going to have to go to the bathroom and again... once on the board they are staying on the board. What if the patient vomits? (it is pretty nauseating riding in a vehicle strapped to a board). There is a whole host of issues you need to be prepared to deal with once the person is immobilized.

You are better off doing two things (if properly trained to do so):

1) Learn the selective spinal immobilization criteria so that you can safely rule out a spinal injury in the back country setting and avoid immobilization.

2) If the patient has a positive spinal injury and immobilization is advised, use a full body vacuum splint (expensive) or use a KED type device in conjunction with a litter/stokes basket and adequate padding for patient comfort.

Otherwise, stabilize in place and wait for professional rescue (if available) or do the best you can with what you have, but in my opinion, if the transport time is more than 30-45 minutes (MAX) the backboard will probably do more harm than good. Unless you are fully equipped and prepared to conduct a self evacuation of the patient, stabilizing in place IS the best option. A spinal injury or suspected spinal injury, in and of itself, is not a life threatening condition. If it is a significant enough injury to immediately cause issues with breathing (such as an upper cervical break) then unfortunately, your patient is most likely screwed anyway without rapid transport to a hospital. If it is a lower spinal injury, or a relatively stable injury, or an unconfirmed spinal injury, then they can be stabilized and supported well until help arrives with all the necessary equipment, manpower, and training to safely conduct the evacuation, even if that takes hours.

I've conducted several rescues of patients that have fallen significant distances, and had a multitude of both internal and external traumatic injuries including later confirmed spinal injuries and they survived for several hours until we arrived and were able to reach them, evacuate them and transport them to a hospital.

Hope that helps.

If you like reading and want to know more about spinal injuries read here about the NEXUS study: http://www.sehsc.org/news/cspine.htm

Here is a great video of a rescue in Canada where the patient had all the MOI, signs and symptoms of a spinal injury (later confirmed by X-Ray) but the conditions and terrain simply didn't allow for immobilization to a board and the patient still had a positive outcome (and it's just a cool video): [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7_4n_4Qhu4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7_4n_4Qhu4[/ame]

[TheBeatenPath]

i had a good design and sketched out in my head.
it involved taking out my passenger seat and using one of these as a bed. i have a thick sleeping back so i can basically sleep on concrete lol.

but i could sleep in security and if the need arrised i would have a backboard.

but i threw away the paper at school on accident.

[Youngunner]

Excellent video. I wonder if they could have used the KED and a stokes in that case?

I tote around a backboard occasionally, usually if I'm out with SAR since I can act as a Paramedic within my county. I think a compact folding military stretcher would be the best bang for buck. Getting the person out of the environment/elements is the first step.

[Jnich77]

This is the same problem I ran into in my last deployment... not only do you have to find room to carry it.. but then you need a way to carry it with a person strapped to it.

As as with what others have said, if you are not properly trained in immobilizing a spinal injury.... please don't try it.