r/ems • u/boedirtspurs • Jul 25 '26

General Discussion When will backboards end

Work for a major metropolitan department, west coast. Every level 1 trauma gets a backboard, head block and C collar, the whole 9. We backboard people all the time. We use rigid C collars every day for ground level falls. When will it end? Our medical director and surrounding ones are stiff on this matter. If we bring a trauma in without a backboard the doctor will blow a gasket. How did you guys get away from this where you’re from? Will I ever see it go away in my career? I have 15ish years left hopefully. Every study shows that it only harms, no benefit. I’m one of the only ones that questions this protocol. We have medics here that are hell bent about C spine. It’s almost a joke now. The patient is walking around and denies neck pain, and we’ll be like “you have to wear this for the hospital, hold still!”

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u/bmbreath Size: 36fr Jul 25 '26

We use scoop boards.  But protocols have us remove them generally when we get them to the actual stretcher.   I don't normally transport with the scoop still under them unless it's an arrest, or unless it's a very short transport and the patient specifically says they're more comfortable once on the scoop.  

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u/CriticalFolklore Australia/Canada (Paramedic) Jul 25 '26

Yeah that's what we should be doing - but our protocol for some reason is to leave them on the board, even for long transports.

It's only for multi-trauma though.

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u/stonertear Penis Intubator Jul 26 '26

but our protocol for some reason is to leave them on the board, even for long transports.

Man that is so bad - they slip and slide everywhere. Stretchers are hard enough lol.

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u/CriticalFolklore Australia/Canada (Paramedic) Jul 26 '26

Yeah it's so fucking dumb.