The times are a changing regarding Spinal Precautions in regards to better patient care but it is important to follow your level of training and protocols.
If you are curious what the current protocols are for Spinal Precautions according to BCAS then check it out at this site; https://bctg.bcas.ca/Condition/Principles/13
The medical principles in the BCAS document refer to an online course titled "Evolving Practices in Trauma Care". I did a bit of research and believe I have found that course offered at;
https://www.itrauma.org/education/itls-etrauma/
The ITLS has a document outlining their thoughts on the use of long backboards, etc. just for patient extrication. You can read about that at; https://www.itrauma.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/SMR-Resource-Document-FINAL.pdf
A really good article is "The Norwegian guidelines for the prehospital management of adult trauma patients with potential spinal injury". It states the following;
The vacuum mattress, while not rigid enough for extrication, is a useful transportation device. As vacuum is applied, the mattress moulds to the patient’s contours, minimising point pressure, making it more comfortable, less painful and, arguably, less likely to produce ulceration [73, 138–141]. The vacuum mattress has been shown to provide a similar, or superior, degree of stabilisation when compared to that of the backboard [132, 139, 140, 142].
According to the BCAS FR Intervention guidelines a FR is to provide manual stabilization and avoid any unnecessary movement. (at one higher level up, an EMR is to Immobilize patient following principles of spinal immobilization).
The BCAS recently issued an advisory on how they will be changing their treatment guidelines. This was done in the BCEHS Spinal Motion Restriction Briefing document.
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