FIRST AID 8 Transportation

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FIRST AID 8Transportation
2009
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
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Transportation

• The high speed of fast rescue craft makes them a
  good choice for transporting patients when time
  is the prime consideration.

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Transportation

• However it should be borne in mind that most fast
  rescue craft have
• 1. little or no shelter from the elements
• 2. limited space for first aid equipment
• 3. limited deck space for stretcher/ spine board
  and for first aiders to work.

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Transportation

• Violent acceleration/deceleration forces that may
  aggravate injuries, accelerate onset of shock and
  make some medical procedures (e.g. CPR) difficult
  or impossible to perform.

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Methods of Immobilisation

• Once again, the high speed and violent motion of
  an FRC should be a consideration when choosing
  methods of immobilisation of injuries.
• It would be extremely uncomfortable for a patient
  to be strapped to a scoop stretcher for even a
  short time on a fast rescue craft in rough sea
  conditions.

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Methods of Immobilisation

• A padded basket stretcher might be a better
  alternative.
• Scoop stretcher Basket Stretcher

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Methods of Immobilisation

• Even minor fractures need to be secured
  thoroughly during transport in a fast rescue
  craft.
• Lower limb fractures need to be tightly splinted
  (blanket splint would not be adequate on its
  own), as movement may cause severe shock due to
  blood loss.

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Methods of Immobilisation

• However keep in mind that an urgent
  transportation may take precedence over securing
  minor fractures.

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Methods of Immobilisation

• Full spinal immobilisation should be particularly
  well-padded, possibly including greater padding
  between the spine board and the basket stretcher
  to act as a shock absorber.
• Great care should be taken in securing the
  stretcher into the FRC to prevent unchecked
  movement with the craft.

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Methods of Immobilisation

• Patients who are immobilised for transport will
  be very susceptible to cold, which could worsen
  shock.
• Even in warm weather, high wind speed and the
  patients inability to move could cause lowering
  of body temperatures.
• Every effort should be made to provide shelter.

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Methods of Immobilisation

• Space blankets and heat packs will help reduce
  heat loss.

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Artificial Respiration and CPR in Fast Rescue
Craft

• The limited space and small crew size in a FRC
  may preclude two people performing CPR.
• Although not recommended, it may be necessary for
  only one rescuer to perform CPR.
• This is something that should be practiced
  regularly so that rescuers are familiar with the
  limitations within their vessel.

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Artificial Respiration and CPR in Fast Rescue
Craft

• If artificial respiration is required, especially
  on a hypothermic patient, the preferred method is
  mouth to mask (with supplemental oxygen if
  available).
• This provides warmth and moisture to the patient
  and is frankly much easier to perform than the
  Bag/Valve/Mask method, which is difficult to
  perform correctly, even under the most controlled
  conditions.

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Artificial Respiration and CPR in Fast Rescue
Craft

• Limited space beside the patient may make giving
  CPR compressions difficult.
• Rescuers may need to straddle the patients hips
  and give compressions from that position.
• Care will be needed to landmark correctly.
• Regular CPR exercises should be practiced in your
  FRC to help develop a strategy for overcoming the
  limitations of the craft.

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From the CCG SAR Seamanship Reference Manual