You are assessing an injured hiker and determine that his pelvis is unstable and painful to palpation. The patient is located at the top of a large mountain, and the local rescue helicopter is on another mission and is unable to respond. Assuming you have the appropriate equipment, the MOST effective way of moving this patient is to:

Question

A) apply full spinal motion restriction precautions, establish an IV and administer 15 mg of morphine, and carefully move him in 5-minute increments.
B) place the patient in a Stokes basket, pad around his pelvic area with blankets, and use at least six people to carefully move him down the mountain.
C) secure the patient in a full-body vacuum mattress, place the mattress in a Stokes basket, and utilize at least four people to move him down the mountain.
D) fully immobilize him on a scoop stretcher, apply a commercial pelvic binder to stabilize his pelvis, and then coordinate each move down the mountain.

Answer 1

Answer: C) secure the patient in a full-body vacuum mattress, place the mattress in a Stokes basket, and utilize at least four people to move him down the mountain.