Safety Corner

CEMS presents:  Ask the Paramedic

“Why did the medics put my Mom on a board? She only fell a short distance.”

This is just one of the many questions that have been asked of CEMS employees from the residents we have taken care of over the years.  In order to provide folks with a better understanding, the rationale behind many of the procedures     Paramedics and EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) use while responding to emergency medical needs will be addressed in Today’s Question.

Today’s Question: 

My 72 year old mother recently fell down the last two steps of the basement stairs. When I found her lying on the floor, she told me she had horrible pain in her ankle.   I called 911 and tried to make her comfortable while we waited for an ambulance to arrive.  While the ambulance crew was getting Mom ready to go to the hospital emergency room, she  was very carefully moved onto a long board.   The crew, among other things, put a big collar around her neck and straps around her and the board so she could not move!   My mom only fell down two steps and said her ankle was the only part of her body that hurt.  She looked so miserable and uncomfortable.  Why did they do this to her?

Answer: 

Even though your mom was only complaining of ankle pain, many folks develop osteoporosis as they age.  Bones can become weakened and brittle, and it is not uncommon for someone to experience a spinal injury while falling from a standing position.   The horrible pain in her ankle as well as the related anxiety, could very well have taken her focus away from any pain or injury she may have had to her back or neck. 

Ambulances are not equipped with X ray machines and there is no way to tell for certain if a patient has a spinal injury without one.  EMTs and Paramedics took every precaution to not only immobilize her painful ankle, but to also keep her from moving her back or neck.  Allowing your mother to move around could have resulted in paralysis or other permanent back injury if she had, by chance, injured her back as well as her ankle when she fell. 
 
Marie Eisbrenner, CCEMTP

Marie has been with CEMS Medical Transport for over 17 years.  She is a Critical Care Paramedic as well as a member of the Pride Care Management Team.