Marine First Aid Level 4 (VTQ)
Course Content
- Course Introduction
- Human anatomy and physiology for immediate emergency care
- Safety and Calling for Help
- What3Words - location app
- Marine band radios
- Marine VHF Radios
- Common Coastal Water Dangers
- Common Fresh Water Marine Dangers
- Emergency Flares
- LED Flares
- The Coastguard
- The Air Ambulance
- Personal Location Beacons
- Accident Prevention
- Boat Safety
- Calling for help
- Water safety tubes
- Types of Blankets
- Emergency response for hybrid and electric boats
- First Aid and Safety Equipment\
- Initial Assessment and Care
- Basic airway management in emergency care
- CPR
- AED
- Administration of oxygen therapy
- Drowning
- Choking
- Shock
- Bleeding
- Catastrophic Injury
- Injuries
- Hypothermia
- Illness
- FIrst Responder - Management of injuries
- Prioritising first aid
- Pelvic Injuries
- Spinal Injuries
- Rapid Extrication
- SAM Pelvic Sling
- Box Splints
- Spinal Injury
- Stabilising the spine
- Spinal Recovery Position
- Introduction to Spinal Boards
- The spinal board
- Using the Spinal Board
- The Scoop Stretcher
- Using the scoop stretcher
- Cervical collars
- Vertical C-Spine Immobilisation
- Joint examination
- Adult fractures
- Types of fracture
- First Responder - Management of trauma
- Elevated Slings
- Lower limb immobilisation
- Elevation Techniques
- Helmet Removal
- Different Types of Helmets
- The Carry Chair
- Applying Plasters
- Strains and Sprains and the RICE procedure
- Eye Injuries
- Electrical Injuries
- Foreign objects in the eye, ears or nose
- Nose bleeds
- Bites and stings
- Chest Injuries
- Foxseal chest seals
- Abdominal Injuries
- Treating Snake Bites
- Types of head injury and consciousness
- Dislocated Shoulders and Joints
- Other Types of Injury
- Dental Injuries
- First Responder - Management of medical conditions
- Asthma
- Asthma Spacers
- When an Asthma inhaler is not available
- Accuhaler®
- Heart Attack
- Warning signs of cardiac arrest and heart attack
- Heart Attack Position
- Aspirin and the Aspod
- Stable angina
- Hypertension
- Pulse Oximetry
- Epilepsy
- Epilepsy treatment
- Meningitis
- Diabetes
- Blood Sugar Testing
- Poisons and Food Poisoning
- Shock
- Near and secondary drowning
- Cold water shock
- Allergic Reactions and Anaphylaxis
- Course Summary
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Get StartedUsing the Spinal Board
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So, attaching a patient to the spinal board or backboard. There is a number of different ways of doing it, but the most common way is a cross method with the straps across the chest and then the final one across the legs, finishing off always with the head blocks at the top. So we attach the straps to the board and we cross the patients body on an angle, across and across. So we have got the shoulders completely controlled. We locate the two straps and we pull up gently. We locate the opposite strap and again, once it's locked in, we now have a cross going over the chest and over the patients chest. Now it is important at this point to get the patient to take a deep breath in, if we do not get the patient to take a deep breath in where possible, when we pull the straps up, we restrict the breathing. If we take a deep breath in, when they breathe out, it allows enough movement to allow comfortable breathing from the patient. So take a deep breath in for me. And then we adjust the straps up tight. Okay, breathe out for me and we have now allowed enough slack to allow the patient to breathe. Okay, so they do not wanna be that tight that they restrict breathing. They are just there to fix the upper torso to the board itself. We then move down and fit the final strap across the legs and again, pull nice and tight so the patient is fixed solidly to the board. Leave the arms out. The reason we leave the arms out, if the patient is conscious, is because people don't like having their arms fixed. What you want to do then is to get the patient to hold that hand with the opposite hand for me and keep the hands out of the way. Give them something to hold on to, handbag, purse or just hold the hands together. If the patient is unconscious, then it is quite often better to actually strap the hands in to aid when we come to move the patient. But if they are conscious, they will hold their own hands and it keeps them out of the way. Once the torso is fixed and tightly strapped down to the board, we then move to the head end. The head end, as I said is always the last bit to be fixed. With the hands holding C spine all the time we have been doing the straps, they are out of the way and the blocks are then inserted. You will notice there is an angled side and a flat side. The flat side goes to the head, the angle side goes on the outside and both blocks are applied at the same time, snugly to the side of the head to keep the head in position and velcroed down. Once the velcro is placed and fixed in place, we then apply the straps. And it is not until the straps are applied that we can release the pressure. We go for the second loop down, we loop through and come back on itself. And we do the same on the opposite side. We then come underneath the chin with the second strap. You can now let go of the chin for me and again we go to the second loop up, velcro and the second loop and velcro again. Okay, you can let go completely now. So what we are gonna do now is tighten the straps and there is a proper way to tighten the straps. If we just velcro one side and pull the other, it rotates the head, it rolls the head. So what you should do is you should grab both straps with the chin piece centre of the chin, you should put your thumbs onto the head blocks, push down with your thumbs and pull the pressure directly down. That way you get an even pull. The same with the head. And once the blocks are on tight, the patient is now safe to move. If this patient vomits, if this patient has any airway problems, we must be prepared to roll or use suction because the airway now is totally in our hands. If they vomit, they can not move the head to clear their airway. So we have to be able to do that for them, which means postural drainage on the board or using suction very quickly.
Proper Technique for Attaching a Patient to a Spineboard
Introduction
When securing a patient to a spineboard, employing the correct technique is crucial to ensure their safety and comfort during transportation. Here's a step-by-step guide on the proper method:
Cross Method for Strapping
The most common approach involves a cross method, starting with straps across the chest and legs, followed by head block placement.
- Chest Straps: Secure straps diagonally across the chest, ensuring gentle tension to allow comfortable breathing.
- Leg Straps: Tighten the final strap across the legs, keeping the patient firmly secured to the board.
Arm Positioning
Leave the patient's arms outstretched to maintain comfort and mobility. Conscious patients can hold their hands together or an object, while unconscious patients may have their hands strapped in for stability.
Head Block Application
Fix the head blocks last, ensuring proper alignment and support for the head and neck.
- Placement: Insert head blocks snugly against the sides of the head, securing them with velcro straps.
- Strap Technique: Use both straps simultaneously, applying even pressure to avoid head rotation or discomfort.
Precautions and Airway Management
Once the patient is secured, be prepared for potential airway issues, such as vomiting. The caregiver must have the means to clear the airway promptly, either through postural drainage or suction.
Conclusion
By following these guidelines for attaching a patient to a spineboard, caregivers can ensure proper immobilization and maintain patient safety during transportation.
- IPOSi Unit three LO1.3, 1.4 & 2.2