Protocol 2-836 - Spinal Immobilization Clearance

CMH EMS & MIH Protocols

EMD:

• No specific protocol.

EMR:

• Providers should not manually stabilize alert and spontaneously moving patients, since patients with Pain will self-limit movement, and forcing immobilization in this scenario may unnecessarily increase discomfort and Anxiety.
• Patients should NOT be transported on a backboard.
• Indications for C-Collar:
• High-energy mechanism of injury OR any of the following:
• Drug or alcohol intoxication,
• Inability to communicate,
• Altered mental status, OR
• Distracting injury.
• Unconscious with unknown history of event.
• Spinal pain, tenderness, or deformity.
• Neurologic complaint (i.e. numbness or motor weakness).
• Patients "cleared" by transferring physician being taken to trauma center meeting requirements for SMR must have SMR.

EMT:

• Ensure completion of applicable items above.

AEMT:

• Ensure completion of applicable items above.

RN:

• Ensure completion of all applicable items above.

Medic:

• Ensure completion of all applicable items above.

CP:

• Ensure completion of all applicable items above.

CMH Pre-Hospital Services Mission: "Provide safe, exceptional, and compassionate care to our communities with an emphasis on highly trained and empowered staff."

CMH Mobile Integrated Healthcare Mission: "Provide exceptional, compassionate, and patient-centered care by a mobile collaborative team to improve patient experience, improve quality outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs."

Polk, Hickory, Cedar, & St Clair County EMS Protocols is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.