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Photo Album: Training: Patient Packaging

In the photo at left, several firefighters work together to place a "Reeves litter" under the patient. The Reeves is lightweight and flexible, so it's easy to carry to the patient, and when the patient is lying on it, the Reeves keeps the patient's back straight.

When the patient is properly secured within the Reeves litter, he is virtually immobile. Immobilizing the patient helps to prevent injuries to the spine or neck, or at least to prevent them from getting any worse during the trip to the hospital.

Another "patient," this time Fire Chief Mark Burkholder, is strapped down to a backboard, which serves the same purpose as a Reeves litter but is not flexible. Paramedic and Assistant Fire Chief Chris Murray demonstrates how to hold the patient's head immobile so his neck does not move...

...until another rescuer comes along to apply a collar which will keep the neck virtually immobile.

CID's, or Cervical Immobilization Devices (in this case, a pair of rolled-up, taped towels does the trick) are added to each side of the patient's head and secured by the shoulder straps, to make extra sure the head does not move. This is very important!

Don't try this at home! Although this is not the way a patient is supposed to be handled, we made a special exception for the Chief! Paramedic Murray demonstrates that, when the patient is properly secured on the backboard, he should not fall out.

PLEASE don't try this at home! As we said, when the patient is properly secured, he should not fall out. And look! He doesn't fall out! Needless to say, we do not treat every patient this way, only the ones we really like. ;-)