EMT training wasn’t always this demanding. The amount of hours required to cover the course materials has

                                                                 risen considerably in the past few decades, as emergency medicine grows more technical and advanced.

                                                                 The increased amount of knowledge expected of volunteers and time demands required for the job comes in

                                                                 the face of a rising number of emergency calls. As a result, newspapers rarely write about emergency medical

                                                                 calls, unlike public events such as fires and car accidents.

                                                                 A common complaint after traumatic injuries is neck or back pain. The primary concern of the pre-hospital

                                                                 provider in handling and transporting a patient with a potential spinal cord injury is prevention of further neurologic

                                                                 injury. This concern is legitimate as spinal cord injuries have the potential to occur after transit or during early

                                                                 management at the scene.

                                                                 The common method of immobilization in the pre-hospital setting includes the Kendrick Extrication Device (KED).

                                                                 The device is used to remove patients from vehicles in non-urgent situations. The K.E.D. immobilizes the torso,

                                                                 head and neck, enabling prompt extrication while minimizing risks of further injury. X-rays or advanced life support

                                                                 procedures can be performed with the K.E.D. in place. Includes wrap-around vest, Adjust a-Pad neck roll, two

                                                                 head straps and a carrying case. The Kendrick Extrication Device is used in the pre-hospital environment to stabilize

                                                                 patients complaining of neck or back pain after car collisions. Once the K.E.D. is slid into position, it is secured to the

                                                                 victim with straps in order to prevent movement. The KED is a low-flexibility device that is secured to the patient’s

                                                                 torso, legs and head to prevent movement. The application of the KED may require significant movement of the patient

                                                                 in order to apply the device, causing further pain and possible further aggravation of the potential back/spinal injury. If

                                                                 the Kendrick Extrication Device is used to immobilize an infant or child, appropriate padding must be used to ensure

                                                                 complete immobilization in a manner that does not obscure the thorax and abdomen, thereby preventing continued

                                                                 assessment of these vital areas.

                                                                 It is worth noting that there is debate and controversy surrounding the exact order of applying the torso straps, with

                                                                 some saying that the order does not matter, as long as the torso is secured before the head. The K.E.D. users' manual

                                                                 is sometimes used in this justification with the explanation that it states the reason the top strap is last is a function of

                                                                 breathing, and not the process of immobilization itself.