----- Original Message -----
From: "Cliff Reid" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2001 6:53 AM
Subject: Re: C-spine injuries (imaging)
> Vikki it's music to my ears to hear your description of the long spine
board
> as a extrication device. I'd love to know how the radiographers are aware
of
> this when the 'casualty' staff are not.
same as most people who know stuff because Vikki probably went away and read
the literature, it amazes me how many people rely on tradition and hearsay
in these supposedly evidence based times.
> I'd humbly recommend that when this sort of poppycock is spouted by junior
> medical and nursing staff you speak to someone more senior with some
> emergency medicine training.
Absolutely, you need to discover whether the policy is held across the
department or whether those saying it are misinfomred
>I'm sorry these situations still occur in my
> specialty, but the fact you're given conflicting stories suggests a lack
of
> a clear policy or familiarity with the policies in that department which
> could perhaps be addressed by a dialogue between the radiology and A&E
> consultant(s) to avoid you and the junior A&E staff having to grapple with
> inconsistent practice.
>
> Interestingly, I was bewildered to discover that it is POLICY in the
> teaching hospital emergency department I worked in in Australia to put a
> trauma patient with potential for spinal injury ONTO a spine board on
> arrival in the ED and keep them on it "until the spine can be cleared".
fine, but why ? had they got a justification ?
> Accepting that my debating/negotiation skills are still in the training
> phase, it was nevertheless frustrating to find the ED consultants
unwilling
> to discuss the disadvantages of this and potential advantages of other
> methods of spinal immobilisation. I'd be interested to hear from some of
the
> other Australasian docs as to whether the ACEM has a policy on this and
> whether your local practice differs.
>
> With best wishes
>
> Cliff Reid
> Australia
>
Martyn Hodson
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or [log in to unmask]
Student Nurse Sheffield University
SJA Ambulance Attendant
writing for myself, views expressed are entirely my own,
and may not reflect those of Sheffield University or St. John Ambulance ,
Nationally or locally
-Duct tape is like the force, it has a light side and a dark side,
and it holds the universe together.
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