Re: I had an interesting encounter last night........

"mark" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> I had an interesting encounter last night........
>
> A 21 y/o f was hit by a car while running accross street.  A quick
> secondary revealed that she had deformities on both legs.  EMT (yours
> truely) r/o tib-fib fractures on both legs.
>
> Pittsburgh Paramedic showed up with 5 paramedics for this call.  Patient
> had low B.P., very quickly they applied mast pants.  Now here is the
> interesting part, they did not remove her pants.  From what I learned in
> EMT class, aren't you suppost to remove all the clothing item on the
> lower ext. before applying MAST??  Another observation I mad:  I thought
> C-collars is the first thing to put on during the secondary, however,
> they did not put it on her untill she was about to be placed on a long
> board and none of them provided manual head immobilization prior to that.


As far as the MAST/PASG pants...... I would think that if the situation
warranting the need for the pants might overrule the need for the extensive
physical examination of the lower extremities by virtue of clothing removal.
I could be wrong on this, but just guessing from what data was provided in
the scenario.

Secondly, after ABC's and life-threatening injuries are assured/managed on
primary/initial survey, I was taught at least then to assure immobilization
of C-spine by manual method (holding C-spine) by self or partner(s) if any.
C-collar being applied as soon as physically possible.  The logic the
instructor gave was pretty much this, do you want a person with a protected
c-spine but they have bled out and dead or do you want a person that
life-threatening injuries are managed first, then immobilization of C-spine?

Hope I got my point across clearly.... if not.... let me know.


--
Ryan, KC8PMX
FF1-FF2-MFR-(pending NREMT-B!)
--. ---  -.. ...    .-  -. --. . .-.. ...   .- .-. .  ..-. .. .-. . ..-.
.. --. .... - . .-. ...


>
> Any inputs?  Comments?
>
> NY AEMT, PA EMT-Mast, AHA Instructor
>
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]