a. Indications for Use. Generally, a KED is used to prepare patients with
suspected spinal injuries for extrication and/or movement from a sitting to a supine
position. As noted in the previous paragraph, the KED is used where the short spine
board could not be used.
b. Procedure for Applying the KED. Follow this procedure:
(1)
Open the KED and place it between the patient's buttocks and the seat
he is on.
(2) Center the KED on the patient and position the KED snugly under the
patient's armpits.
(3)
Place padding under the small of the patient's neck.
(4)
Fasten the chest straps. Snug up the bottom and the middle straps.
(5)
Secure the leg straps like this:
(a) Slide the straps under the patient's thighs.
(b) Cross the straps at the crotch.
(c)
Secure the straps at the opposite side. (Local protocol may vary on
this point.)
(d) Use padding and be especially careful with male patients when
applying the leg straps. Take care not to involve the penis when securing the leg
straps.
NOTE:
The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma decided in 1977 to
remove the use of chin straps from patient immobilization protocol.
Difficulties in comfortable patient immobilization followed. The horse-collar
and horseshoe blanket technique provide firm stability to cervical injuries.
Both allow the patient comfort through good padding.
(e) Tie the patient's hands together prior to movement.
c. Placement of the Patient on the Spine Board. Follow this procedure:
(1) Both rescuers grasp the side handles on opposite sides of the KED.
Place their other arms under the patient's legs.
(2) Locking their arms together under the patient, the rescuers lift the patient
up (keeping the patient's legs at a 45 degree angle). The rescuers then lower the
patient onto a spine board.
MD0572
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