JBL EMT Practice Exam

An 81-year-old female fell and struck her head. You find the patient lying on her left side. She is conscious and complains of neck and upper back pain. As you are assessing her, you note that she has a severely kyphotic spine. What is the most appropriate method of immobilizing this patient?

1. Apply a cervical collar and place her in a sitting position on the wheeled stretcher

2. Immobilize her in a supine position on a long backboard and secure her with straps

3. Leave her on her side and use blanket rolls to immobilize her to the long backboard

4. Move her to a supine position and immobilize her with a scoop stretcher and padding

The correct answer is: Apply a cervical collar and place her in a sitting position on the wheeled stretcher

The choice of A is the most appropriate method for immobilizing this patient because it addresses the patient's complaint of neck and upper back pain while also taking into account the patient's age and the condition of her spine. Applying a cervical collar and placing her in a sitting position on the wheeled stretcher will help to stabilize her neck and spine while also providing a comfortable position for the patient to be transported in. Option B is incorrect because immobilizing the patient in a supine position on a long backboard can be uncomfortable and potentially worsen her neck and back pain. Option C is also incorrect because leaving her on her side and using blanket rolls can cause further discomfort and may not provide enough support for her spine. Option D is incorrect because using a scoop stretcher may be too rigid and not address the patient's complaint of pain in her neck and upper back.