MetaChat - Just wondering about ambulance backboards

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27 December 2011

Just wondering about ambulance backboards Why is there, or there used to be,a sharpish thing on the backboard paramedics use that digs into the base of your skull? If it's because you're short, that makes no sense because then it should dig in near the top of your skull or above your skull if the sharp thing, whatever it is, is in the proper place for most people, which would I guess be the neck because there's less body weight there. Really, there is no good place for a sharp thing to dig in. What's that about?

post by: serena at: 15:10 | 6 comments

I hope you're not asking from experience.

posted by Melismata 27 December | 17:54

The backboards I've seen are all uniformly flat.
There are, though, foam wedges they can use under the head/neck area to immobilize and keep the head and neck properly oriented and keep the airway unobstructed.

posted by Thorzdad 27 December | 19:29

It's a place where you attach a neck brace or pad. The stretchers you've been on are incomplete. I use backboards every day.

posted by ColdChef 27 December | 21:48

Oh Coldchef, you of course would have the answer, wouldn't you? Shame we can't favorite posts here.

posted by msali 27 December | 21:59

I use backboards every day.

And you have yet to hear a customer complain, I am certain.

posted by danf 28 December | 09:08

Incomplete how? I guess stretcher was the word I meant to say, not backboard. I've been on stretchers twice, and the last one was no problem, but that other one...but that was years ago, and maybe they fixed the problem.

posted by serena 28 December | 11:20

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