MANUAL IN-LINE STABILISATION
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MANUAL IN-LINE STABILISATION: CAUDAL SUPINE • The Officer kneels or lies down behind the patient’s head and places their elbows on the ground for stability. If kneeling, the Officer moves their knees back at least 60 cm from their elbows. • The Officer slides the webbing between the ring finger and middle finger of both hands to cup the patient’s ears. • The Officer then place the thumbs of both hands against the patient’s forehead. • The Officer then place the little fingers of both hands at the patient’s angle of the mandible. • The Officer then place the index finger and ring fingers of both hands above and below each of the patient’s zygoma. • If the patient’s head is not in the neutral in-line position, slowly realign it, unless contra-indicated (page 51).
MANUAL IN-LINE STABILISATION: SIDE SUPINE This technique is not as easy or as stable as the Manual In-Line Stabilisation: Caudal Supine, but is a common precursor to the knee-clamp, when the Officer is unable to get behind the patient’s head, or when preparing for the Intubation Straddle. • The Officer kneels beside the patient’s mid-torso, facing the patient’s head. • The Officer places his palms on each side of the patient’s head with the palms resting over the zygomas with the fingers pointing at a 45º angle towards the ground. • The Officer now move their thumbs to the patient’s forehead and little fingers behind the patient’s occiput. The Officer’s other fingers should now spread out across the posterior aspect of the patient’s skull. • If the patient’s head is not in the neutral in-line position, slowly realign it, unless contra-indicated (page 51). A PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDE TO PREHOSPITAL SPINAL CARE:
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