Spinal boards are one of the most important pieces of medical equipment on board ambulances and helicopters, as they can protect anyone suspected of having a spinal injury from further damage.
Being completely flat, a spinal board stretcher creates stability, so that the person’s spine is immobilised during transportation. Together with straps to hold the body in place, this means they can be moved out of the wreckage or over uneven terrain carefully to avoid movement of the spinal cord, which could damage it even more.
Even if it is not known whether the patient has incurred a back injury, it is necessary to use a rigid surface to move them, just in case. What’s more, it can safely transport those who are unconscious, disoriented or have been in a vehicle collision to the emergency vehicle safely and quickly.
They are particularly valuable for accidents that occur in awkward-to-reach places, such as on the mountain, as it means the patient can be carried securely to the helicopter ambulance without unnecessarily moving their body.
It can be extremely dangerous to move someone who has injured their spine, as it could cause nerve damage, paralysis or a secondary injury if done incorrectly. It could even be fatal, if it damages the respiratory centers and they are left unable to breathe.
As the spinal cord contains many nerves between the brain and the body, moving the patient could damage these, making the injury worse than it already is.
You could also cause bleeding or swelling, both of which could negatively impact the spinal cord.
If the patient has a fracture and they are moved, this could even result in paralysis, which could become permanent.
It is not always easy to tell if the person has suffered a spinal injury, which is why it is better to be safe than sorry and use a secure flat stretcher in any case.