using a backboard in deep water: head and chin supportThis is an outline of a rescue and backboarding of a submerged spinal injury victim in deep water using head and chin support.
This is just an outline, the details are at: Deep water backboarding
including: keeping the victim's face out of the water and keeping in-line stabilization maintained;
that the person holding head/neck never lets go to do anything else; if things get messed up, you go back in steps carefully instead of giving up; that you have calm communication during problems (the victim is hearing everything you say!); checking to see that tubes are placed carefully and evenly; dealing with tube straps; telling each other what you are going to do so the other guard can be ready, and more.
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rescuer 1 brings victim to surface using head and chin support,
rescuer 2 stuffs the tube under the armpits of rescuer 1, confirms that the victim is conscious
rescuer 1 heads to side or corner of pool
rescuer 2 puts tube under victim's knees to raise the legs
rescuer 2 places backboard under victim
IF backboard is in place properly, rescuer 1 moves their lower arm under the backboard
rescuer 2 removes the tube from under the victim's legs and moves to the victim's head and places the tube under the head of the backboard
rescuer 2 supports the backboard with his/her forearms and holds victim's head with his/her hands
rescuer 1 straps victim, puts on head immobilizer
both guards get the backboard to the wall with the head end on the gutter
(For testing proposes we need to see each guard do every step, so we ask for the next steps to always be done by rescuer 1 or 2 for consistency, In real life you might not do them this way.)
rescuer 1 puts tube(s) under foot end (we get an extra guard at the foot end for safety) and 1 climbs out
rescuer 2 climbs out
both guards lift board to deck.
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