Shifting the Injured 

In a case of back injury it is often difficult to asses that the patient has a fractured spinal column. If a patient has received back injury and does not have feeling in his legs or cannot move them, one can be reasonably sure that he has a severe back injury which should be treated as a fracture. In such cases, if the spine is fractured, bending it can cause the sharp bone fragments to bruise or cut the spinal cord and result in permanent paralysis. The spinal column must maintain a position so as to remove pressure from the spinal cord. 

If possible do not transport him until medical personnel arrive. Observe the following precautions : 

1.  Caution the patient not to move. Ask him if he is in pain or if he is 

      unable to move any part of his body. 
2.  Leave him in the position in which he is found. Do not move any part 

     of his body. 
3.  Slip a rolled-up blanket, if he is lying face up, or anything under the 

     arch of his back to support the spinal column in a sway back position. 

If he is lying face down, do not put anything under any other part of his body. 

The patient must be transported to a safe location before medical personnel arrive : 

If the patient is in a face-up position transport him on a firm surface such as a hard board longer than his height. Loose tie the casualty’s wrists together over his waistline. Tie his feet together to prevent the accidental dropping or shifting of his legs. Lay a folded blanket under the arch of his back. Four or five men together should lift the patient and place him on the hard board without bending his spinal column or his neck. 

Three men should position themselves on one side of the patient. They should kneel on one knee along the side of the patient. The fourth man should position himself on the other side of the patient. The first three men gently place their hands under the patient. The number one man on the opposite side places his hands under the injured part. 

When all four men are in position to lift, all men, in unison, gently lift the patient about 8 inches. Once the patient is lifted, the number one man slides the hard board under the patient, ensuring that the blanket is in proper position. Then all men, in unison, gently lower the patient onto the board. 

If the patient is in a face-down position, he must be shifted in this same position by lifting him onto a hard board.