http://www.shockdoctor.com/products/eject-helmet-removal-system.aspx

I’d add one thing to it. Don’t just bring it for the doctor…examine it for yourself. Check it out good. And then, when you get to the hospital, hand it to the doctor and tell him what you think. Subtle but important difference. Thanks for the addition.

First PRACTICE REMOVING HELMETS! This technique of holding c-spine from the front is odd, and takes practice to get down pat. Go to a local football practice and ask the coach/trainer if you can practice on some players. Or borrow some helmets and guinea pig each other. Get to know how you need to place your hands depending on the player’s build. No-neck players vs tall skinny ones… tighter helmets vs looser. Like any other skill, practice, practice, practice.

When removing the helmet, be aware that some helmets fit so tight, you may need the person with the longest thinnest fingers to hold the head from the front while the other removes the helmet. Gloves that are loose on our hands make it harder to hold c-spine on these patients.

Do not “open” the helmet by pulling the rounded area surrounding the player’s ears. This actually causes a flex to the helmet and changes the shape enough that makes it harder to remove the helmet, and increases risk of further c-spine injury to the player.

For a time, we left the helmets and pads on football players on, but getting the faceplates off has been problematic, as sometimes the screws are rusted and impossible to unscrew, or stripped outright. And honestly, it takes a LOT of time. If I am stabilizing a patient, and feel the need to leave the helmet on, I have the trainer work on removing the screws.

Many schools are not purchasing new equipment due to budgetary constraints, and not all helmets have the “snap-away” faceplates that can be removed with shears. Local FD policy is to remove helmets, but sometimes they forget about the pads. If we leave helmet and pads on, we ALWAYS use foam Head Blocks and copious tape to secure them to the board.

Downhill MTB helmets with the Leatt brace system are becoming popular, especially among younger racers. We did have a racer volunteer to lay down on a board to visual alignment one day. There is no benefit to leaving the helmet and brace on. It does not keep the neck in alignment. It actually takes them out of alignment. We will remove these, especially since most downhill MTB helmets are full face, and cover the mouth. And the tight helmet issue is a problem with this group as well.

As for helmet removal I would never want to do that one-person. The diagram in our textbook just looked like a how-to-get-sued manual.

I’m currently waiting for my state license, passed my NREMT-B exam. While I’m really excited, I’m worried that a lot of stuff we should have learned in class was pretty much omitted. But with a combination of an open mind, personal research, and great blogs like this, maybe I can fill in some of those blank spots. Please keep up this awesome blog. And compile it into a book someday!