SPINAL MANAGEMENT

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SPINAL MANAGEMENT By Surf Life Saving
Queensland
surf life saving
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Spinal Stretcher Carry
Only SLSA endorsed Spinal Boards 2
Different usages
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2 Main Methods
SPINAL INJURY CARRY SPINAL STRETCHER CARRY
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Spinal Stretcher Carry
Extended Arm Rollover Standing Position
(Conscious, Unconscious, Transportation)
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Extended Arm Rollover
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Extended Arm Rollover

• Most Common Position

• Care of the airway

• Surf Conditions

• Assistance Required (Humans)

• Resources needed

• Inform Patrol Captain/Senior L/G

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Extended Arm Rollover

• Approach from Head on angle

• Right hand underneath head
• to meet right arm of patient

• Left hand with patients left hand

• Lift arms to horizontal position
• in front of head

• Press upper arms firmly
• alongside head to immobilise
• head and neck

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Extended Arm Rollover

• Move backwards while slowly
• rolling patient

• If patients head is out to sea use
• back to break waves

• ENSURE UPPER ARMS ARE
• PRESSED FIRMLY
• THROUGHOUT THE ROLL

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Extended Arm Rollover

• As roll occurs second rescuer enters with spinal
  board

• If there is a sweep precautions should be made

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Extended Arm Rollover

• Submerge stretcher under patient and allow it to
  float into position

• Rescuer with stretcher should warn of any waves
  coming

• Rescuer at head to ensure body is maintained in
  neutral position

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Extended Arm Rollover

• Recruit members of patrol / public to assist

• If patient is in still water and conscious,
  patient can be secured to stretcher with attached
  straps

• If patient is unconscious lift and carry the
  patient from the water

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Extended Arm Rollover

• Rescuer at head can support board with fingers
  while pushing arms together with thumbs and palms
  of hands

• Lift board and patient maintaining horizontal
  position

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Extended Arm Rollover

• Exit water under directions of person at head

• Rescuers holding middle of board should be
  looking ahead

• Conditions may warrant the patient to exit head
  or feet first

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Extended Arm Rollover

• Slowly lower patient down with rescuer on one
  knee maintaining a straight back
• (refer to page 12, 32nd Edition Training Manual)

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Extended Arm Rollover

• Rescuers supporting middle of board firmly press
  arms to head

• Depending on qualifications of personnel,
  Lifesaver takes control of head

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Extended Arm Rollover

• The Lifesaver taking control should allow a
  proficient ARC holder to be free in order to
  apply advanced spinal management (Stiff-neck)

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Extended Arm Rollover

• Arms are lowered beside patients body and sizing
  for stiff-neck can begin

• Stiff-neck collar shall not be applied if
  patient is not breathing

• Patient support can be applied in the forms of
  head blocks and straps

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Extended Arm Rollover

• Patient is supported and vital signs are
  monitored until ambulance arrival

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Standing Position
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Standing Position

• When a patient comes to a Lifesaving patrol
  indicating pain in the neck

• History of Patients activities

• Remain calm and still

• Inform patient of actions going to take by
  Lifesaver/Lifeguard

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Standing Position

• Maintain head in neutral position

• Relax patient and continually inform of actions
  going to happen

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Standing Position

• Size and apply a Stiff-neck collar

• ARC Holder only

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Standing Position

• Size board up with patient and If need be dig a
  slight hole behind the patients feet to gain the
  correct height

• Insert spinal board on the angle between the
  rescuer and the patient

• Ensure board is placed as close to patients
  heals (feet)

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Standing Position

• Ensure centre of board is in line with centre
  of patients body

• Rescuers arm is placed under patients armpit and
  grasps board to ensure patient doesnt slip down
• Second has is placed on board to support weight

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Standing Position

• Under the direction of the rescuer at the head
  gently lower the patient

• At approximately 45 degrees the rescue will
  call stop

• While stopped the rescuer at the head will
  rotate his hands so that his fingers point
  towards the patients feet

• Once completed that patient is gently lowered to
  the ground under the direction of the rescuer at
  the head

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Standing Position

• Patient is supported and vital signs are
  monitored until ambulance arrival

• Should a patient become a non-breathing patient,
  ensure the removal the stiff-neck collar is
  completed ASAP

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Standing Position

• Patient support can be applied in the forms of
  head blocks and straps

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Non-Breathing Spinal Patients
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Extended Arm Rollover
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Extended Arm Rollover

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Extended Arm Rollover

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Extended Arm Rollover

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Extended Arm Rollover
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THANK YOU QUESTIONS ?
surf life saving
By Craig Roberts