Minimal patient handling: a Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care consensus statement
Safe and effective patient packaging is a vital step in the safe transport of trauma patients to definitive care. A significant proportion of patients are treated with spinal immobilisation precautions based on their examination findings or on the mechanism of injury (Orledge and Pepe, 1998). Current UK practice commonly involves the use of a cervical collar and blocks usually secured to a rigid spinal board. Alternatively, and increasingly commonly, immobilisation is achieved using either a scoop stretcher or a vacuum mattress.
Spinal immobilisation is a common intervention for the pre-hospital patient following trauma. Most commonly the patient is log-rolled on to a rigid long spinal board. Once on the long spinal board, the patient, with a cervical collar applied, will be immobilised using head blocks and straps and secured to the board for transportation to definitive care.
Once at definitive care, the patient may again be log-rolled to facilitate removal of the spinal board, removal of clothing and examination of the back and spinal columns. Further movement of the patient will usually occur again during transfer for CT imaging.
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