Prehospital personnel 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 booklet. 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 is to include:

• Review of the VacMat Powerpoint Presentation (supplied with each VacMat sold) under direct supervision of an appropriately trained supervisor.
  
  

• Review of the VacMat instruction Manual (supplied with each VacMat sold).
  
  

• A minimum of 5 applications of the VacMat in a training environment under direct supervision of an appropriately trained supervisor before use on actual patients.

 

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

• Three monthly practical review in the use of the VacMat in its intended environment,

• Twelve monthly theoretical & practical review of the VacMat

 

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