By Jeremy Rifflard
A person with a spinal injury needs to be moved with minimal or no manipulation of the neck or spine. A backboard with a cervical collar and spinal-immobilization device is often the best practice to limit movement of the patient. If there is a small elevator or narrow stairwell, movement of the backboarded patient can be challenging. On certain occasions, a technical rescue team may be called to bring the patient to the ground. Waiting for a technical rescue response may take a great amount of time. Many fire companies have the equipment and ability to execute the ladder pivot rescue; all they need is training.
To begin rigging a rope rescue system, the patient on the backboard is moved and secured into the rescue basket. The rescue basket creates a more stable platform than the backboard alone. This basket has a rail rescuers can grab during movement. There are areas to connect rigging components; not all rescue baskets are approved for lifting. The general duty-rated basket is an approved lifting device for elevated victim rescue. Technical rescue teams often use the basket as their “go to” device.
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