EMT certification

[hacimsaalk]

In splinting, consider using a Sam Splint as a teaching aid. It'll do almost everything with the exception of a femur fx, or an "open book" pelvic fx; and young scouts find them a hoot to practise with.

If teaching C spine to this age level, take a look at Maine's Spinal protocols for WFR's.

ok, well, ur gonna have to explain to me wut a sam splint is. ive heard a lot of spints called a lot of things, but never heard of that one

i figure C-spine is easy enough to teach. once you get the proper hand position down, the real challenge is keeping the person from moving their head.

ASM- idk if id go as far as they know it. they kinda hve the basic idea down though.

[hacimsaalk]

just lookin at the boyscout book (older version from 03 or so) things are way outdated. i would never teach half the stuff they do (as far as splinting goes. is this b/c i ahve an outdated book or what??

i also think more emphasis needs placed on scene safety, size up, and stuff like that. they really dont say much about immobilizing a patient, holding c-spine, or anything else of that sort.

[riverwalk]

Just for grins, I just went through my library and picked out the 9th ('84) edition. The splinting area is well done for what we want any Scout to do or make do with. Your skills and enthusiasm are wonderful, and will offer more to your students than they might get otherwise. For instance, we know how to explain why they are immobilizing joints above and below, and about distal pulses and such things. Knowing how to be calm, prevent additional harm, administer to the Hurry cases if that is also present, and get help are what we need them to grasp. If they can do that, they'll help people all their lives.

But I wouldn't be too concerned about newer splinting devices, as they aren't important in doing First Aid in Scouting scenarios, nor are they likely to be available. Once they're old enough to get formal training, or others have the training and the neat devices, then they can be used by those familiar with them. But the blank looks are a good guide to teach what they've already studied, just put into practice with them. This is where the neckerchief posts could be recalled.

I'll always be proud that my initial training was as a Scout, and put me on the path to do Emergency Services for my life's work.

[Ridge Runner]

In splinting, consider using a Sam Splint as a teaching aid. It'll do almost everything with the exception of a femur fx, or an "open book" pelvic fx; and young scouts find them a hoot to practise with.

If teaching C spine to this age level, take a look at Maine's Spinal protocols for WFR's.

ok, well, ur gonna have to explain to me wut a sam splint is. ive heard a lot of spints called a lot of things, but never heard of that one

i figure C-spine is easy enough to teach. once you get the proper hand position down, the real challenge is keeping the person from moving their head.

Here's a link for Sam Splints

http://www.sammedical.com/Products/SAM-SPLINT/

Maine C Spine protocols are a wee bit different from your training...it boils down to making the decision when in the back country and far from help either to immobolize, or not to immobolize based on the pt.'s MOI and LOC (AVPU).
The last thing you wanna do is strap a reliable and ambulatory pt to a backboard for two or three days. Makes for a lot of very unhappy campers, more so for the pt. when nature calls....

A discussion of Maine's C Spine protocols with older scouts could serve to simulate a lot of conversation allowing them to become aware of how difficult backcountry EMS can be, and the need to consider Risk Mangement in their high adventure activities.....

[hacimsaalk]

i am not saying it isnt well done. just not even close to what i would like to see. above and below just seems like common knowledge, as does not going over the joint or break, and padding the voids when ur all done. keeping calm is also a good thing to do.

im not too awfully worried about newer devices. i really wouldnt expect a troop to carry a 6x1x1 bag of long splints on every campout.

i guess it just boils down to me being fruturated b/c it just seems like its all too simple to actually work.


ridge runner-now that i look at them, i know wut they are. idk why it didnt click with me at first. i dont think that we even have them on our dept's rig anymroe. pretty much all we have is long splints, and i think possibly pillow splints.

well, protocols here tell me to immobilize when any trauma may have occured to the head or neck/spine. its better to be safe than sorry. its far better to have a group of guys mad at you than to have of of your frineds in a wheel chair for the rest of his life.

now sure, if they tripped and fell 1/2 ft, theyre walking out. but anything too awfully rough, and they're getting immobilized as much as we can possibly do with wut we got. if its too bad, id much rather wait the day or so for a real backboard to get there.

[riverwalk]

Of course in our Scouting situations, it would be a remote consideration to "pack" someone out of the wilderness. There are too many scenarios and parameters to expect that each of us (readers) can "see" the same picture of an injured person.

So just as a rule, we might consider what Scouting has always anticipated...that being the Patient is cared for while others get/summon help. Drills and exercises are awesome for gaining insight to actually packaging and moving people as part of your scenario. It gives all members a perspective on what's required. Doing it in various terrain, weather, and with an assortment of skill levels places others in potential danger.

This is IMHO, of course, and the discussion is likely useful to others that don't have extensive responder backgrounds. They need to determine their own reaction to events, before they have one. In that way one either gears up to meet the challenge, or plans how/where to get the resources to respond when needed. It's the greater probability that local rescuers where your outing is, are ready to deal with things in their area. But this is good stuff to Be Prepared for.

[hacimsaalk]

that being the Patient is cared for while others get/summon help.

that is what i think we all should strive for. make the patient as comfortable as possible for as long as possilbe (till "real" help gets there). as a "trained"individual, thats really all i would ask/expect of scout.