C spine, backboard, and stabbing

I mainly meant to emphasize that I'm never pulling the knife wo orders that's all
 
This sounds like a situation where the absolute best thing that can be done for the patient is rapid transportation to a trauma center. Especially since this is in the BLS forum - ALS-level practitioners might have a few more tricks up their sleeve, but even paramedics aren't trauma surgeons.

An impaled object is not something that can be effectively treated in the field. If you stay and play with a backboard, the patient may bleed out. Time to kick it old school - ABCs, stabilize the object with bulky dressings, then scoop and run for the hospital.
 
I imagine that the absolute best thing for the patient was to avoid being stabbed in the first place...
 
i must agree

JPINFV said:
I imagine that the absolute best thing for the patient was to avoid being stabbed in the first place...
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HAHAHA, I would have to say the same thing. Lateral placement would be the best though. If it's smack dab center, you can assume it has not damage caudal equina and probably attempt testing of dermatomes. And counsel pt on the importance of bringing a gun to a knife fight.
 
arsenicbassist said:
If it's smack dab center, you can assume it has not damage caudal equina and probably attempt testing of dermatomes. And counsel pt on the importance of bringing a gun to a knife fight.
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Unless your a Johns Hopkins student with a samurai sword.
 
keep in mind, that in my state anyway...EMT B's have to call MD to receive permission to fore go or stop revival efforts
 
hyrisk said:
Okay need to clarify and confirm my friends. I got my money on this. There's. Pt with a knife to the smack center of their lumbar. The knife on the back is waving to you hello. What you going to do. C spine, backboard, or what
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Point and Laugh....:glare:
 
Brandon Oto said:
I'm still a little doubtful on prone. Are you suggesting that we might bag someone lying on their stomach? Or the medic might intubate them like that?
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Seriously? :glare: Walks away shaking his head......
 
JPINFV said:
I imagine that the absolute best thing for the patient was to avoid being stabbed in the first place...
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Ah, but at that point, he wasn't a patient. He became a patient when the ambulance showed up.

Though maybe one of the local SuperEMTs or Paragods has the ability to reverse the flow of time and stop the stabbing, giving a new meaning to 'preventative medicine'.
 
EMSLaw said:
Ah, but at that point, he wasn't a patient. He became a patient when the ambulance showed up.

Though maybe one of the local SuperEMTs or Paragods has the ability to reverse the flow of time and stop the stabbing, giving a new meaning to 'preventative medicine'.
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I'm working on that, but I can't quite get the 1.21 gigawatts I need to get this DeLorean to freakin' work.

Cheers
 
Brandon Oto said:
Anything I can clarify for you?
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Of course you can bag someone on their stomach, intubate in other than the normal "flat on their back" position, and immobilize a patient in other than the supine position. Is it ideal? Is it the norm? No way, but not everything you encounter on the streets fits in the perfect little scenario you did in class or that is outlined in your protocols.

Bit of a hijack here...have you ever immobilzed a child in a car seat with a towel and some tape? Have you ever had to "make do" with what you had available to you because the patient just didn't fit?

One needs to approach Emergency Medicine with an open mind and learn from other's experiences. To look at things from one point of view based on limited personal experience or "because my protocol(s)/company policy says so" is absolutely insane.
 
wvditchdoc said:
Of course you can bag someone on their stomach, intubate in other than the normal "flat on their back" position, and immobilize a patient in other than the supine position. Is it ideal? Is it the norm? No way, but not everything you encounter on the streets fits in the perfect little scenario you did in class or that is outlined in your protocols.
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Okay. It really was just a query, kind sir.

I've never bagged a prone patient and imagine it might be tough getting a seal; I'll take your word for it. And I have no idea how a medic would feel about intubating someone like that, and assumed it would be extremely difficult; again, apparently not. How would you visualize the airway? Would you crouch down?

Lateral was my preference anyway...

Bit of a hijack here...have you ever immobilzed a child in a car seat with a towel and some tape? Have you ever had to "make do" with what you had available to you because the patient just didn't fit?
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You can attach anything to anything with tape and tourniquets <_<

Actually, although I haven't done it, I seem to recall the car seat thing (towel, tape and all) was taught in my EMT course. Some practicalities do make their way from the field to the classroom.

One needs to approach Emergency Medicine with an open mind and learn from other's experiences. To look at things from one point of view based on limited personal experience or "because my protocol(s)/company policy says so" is absolutely insane.
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I agree. I guess you're just venting.
 
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