The management of the potential spinal patient requires a range of skills including scene management, safe work practices, hazard control, patient assessment and treatment.

This booklet — used in conjunction with the three day ‘Prehospital Spinal Management’ course is designed to develop a systematic approach to multiple aspects of prehospital spinal care.

Prehospital personnel including Paramedics, First-aiders, Rescue Officers and other persons performing activities in the prehospital setting, will for standardisation, all be referred to as ‘Officers’ in this manual.

Officers should realise that there is no substitute for training and experience in spinal management. Each person must be thoroughly trained in all areas of prehospital spinal care.

The ideal situation is to have all members of the team qualified to manage all the steps presented in this manual. If unqualified members are present at a scene, they must perform under strict supervision of a qualified team member.

Frequent exercises need to be held to ensure that training levels are maintained. Practice will lead to high levels of competence and safety.

RAPP Australia Pty Ltd recommends that initial training of Officers in the use of the Board is to include:

RAPP Australia Pty Ltd recommends that ongoing training of Officers is to include:

Persons using the Board without proper initial & ongoing training may place the patient at risk of injury, including permanent spinal cord damage.

Officers must be familiar with all items of equipment, the way they operate and their limitations. Every Officer should be competent to check and maintain equipment in the field.

This manual is designed to be used in conjunction with a proper prehospital spinal management course, and must not be used in isolation.

This course and Manual is written for Officers who have previous first aid knowledge. It is designed for Officers with a minimum Level Two - Workplace First Aid Course.