Deck 12: Spine Boarding in Challenging Environments

Question 1

Which of the following must be considered during extrication of an athlete from a gymnastics pit?

A) Use of panel mats to move the spine board across unstable surface
B) Moving the spine board across the pit surface, as opposed to carrying the board out of the pit
C) Immobilizing the athlete on the board because manual cervical stabilization may be challenging
D) All of the above

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Improper management of potential cervical spine injury can worsen the injury, or even cause death. It has been estimated that ________ of cervical spine injuries occur or are aggravated by emergency extrication and transport.

A) 10%
B) 15%
C) 25%
D) 35%

Answer 2

C

Question 3

A cervical collar should not be applied to an unresponsive athlete in a gymnastics pit ____________.

A) when the athlete is prone and his head is rotated to one side
B) until the athlete is on a spine board
C) until after the athlete has regained consciousness
D) All of the above

Answer 3

A

Question 4

What elements increase the likelihood of a catastrophic injury occurring during pole vaulting?

A) Athletes are placed in an inverted body position during the vault.
B) Athletes can land from heights ranging from 10 to 20 feet.
C) Equipment setup and padding placement may be less than adequate to prevent injuries.
D) All of the above

Question 5

After the first rescuer has entered a gymnastics pit to care for an unresponsive athlete, at what point should a second rescuer enter?

A) Immediately following entry of the first
B) After the first rescuer has stabilized the athlete's head
C) After a cervical collar has been applied to the athlete
D) Once the athlete has been log rolled onto a spine board

Question 6

In the event that an airway cannot be established in an unresponsive athlete in a gymnastics pit, ____________.

A) other rescuers should be prepared to enter the pit on a moment's notice
B) every effort should be made to protect the cervical spine
C) the athlete should be removed from the pit immediately
D) All of the above

Question 7

Which of the following statements is true regarding soft-foam gymnastics pits?

A) Soft-foam pits are inherently stable.
B) Because foam blocks are used in gymnastics pits, the edges of the blocks will often interlock, creating a soft, regular surface.
C) Pits suspended on trampolines transmit motion across greater distances.
D) All of the above

Question 8

When considering the design of gymnastics tumbling pits, which of the following statements is true?

A) Inground pits are typically located in facilities specifically designed for gymnastics.
B) Pits are designed to allow high bars to be suspended over the pit for the purposes of safety.
C) Tumbling pits are designed solely for the use of high bar equipment.
D) A & B
E) A & C

Question 9

When considering a slow, careful entry into the pit, where should the athletic trainer enter in relation to the injured athlete?

A) The trainer should enter close to the athlete's feet.
B) The trainer should enter on the right side of the athlete in order to facilitate a log roll.
C) The trainer should enter as close to the athlete's head as possible.
D) It makes no difference where the trainer enters, as long as movement in the pit is minimized.

Question 10

Which of the following mechanisms of injury are associated with gymnastics and landing pits?

A) Direct contact with the pit or equipment
B) Collisions between athletes in the pit
C) Improper entry into the pit
D) Striking the bottom of the pit
E) All of the above

Question 11

When managing an athlete with an injury in a gymnastics pit, at what point should the emergency action plan be activated?

A) As soon as the athlete collides with another athlete in the pit
B) At the point when the athlete fell head first into the pit
C) When the athlete is deemed unresponsive
D) After you have confirmed that the athlete is breathing

Question 12

Which of the following is the first step in treating and managing a patient who is in a gymnastics pit and has a suspected cervical spine injury?

A) Call to the athlete and ask him to move to the edge of the pit.
B) Immediately stop all other activity in the pit.
C) Inform the athlete, if conscious, to remain still.
D) Activate the emergency action plan.

Question 13

At what point during their routines are gymnasts most often injured?

A) The approach
B) The skill
C) The landing
D) None of the above

Question 14

Of which extrication devices are clinicians often skeptical?

A) Long spine board
B) Scoop stretcher
C) Split-litter backboard
D) A & B
E) B & C

Question 15

Which of the following sports has reported the highest rate of spinal cord injuries?

A) Football
B) Gymnastics
C) Diving
D) Auto racing

Question 16

When dealing with potential situations involving gymnastics and landing pits, which of the following must be taken into consideration?

A) Coaches and medical personnel must know where all emergency extrication equipment is located.
B) All emergency extrication equipment must be in good repair and working order.
C) A comprehensive emergency action plan (EAP) must be in place.
D) Appropriately sized equipment must be in place to manage injuries to athletes of various ages and sizes.
E) All of the above

Question 17

When rescuers are entering a gymnastics pit, which of the following should occur ?

A) Additional rescuers should enter the pit one at a time.
B) Rescuers should enter two at a time.
C) All rescuers should approach the patient at the same time to maintain balance in the pit.
D) None of the above

Question 18

Some might suggest using an aluminum ladder in attempts to rescue an athlete in a gymnastics pit. Which of the following are concerns associated with use of the ladder?

A) The ladder would not be an effective tool to use for ensuring proper immobilization and transport of the athlete.
B) Once in the foam, the ladder may be too high to reaccess.
C) If on the ladder, the athletic trainer may not be able to assist in log rolling the athlete.
D) Use of a ladder for an extended period of time may become increasingly uncomfortable.
E) All of the above are concerns

Question 19

Of the reported 11,000 spinal cord injuries that occur in North America annually, what percentage results from sports participation?

A) 2%
B) 4%
C) 5%
D) 7%

Question 20

What are the benefits of including landing mats, panel mats, or plywood in a rescue attempt?

A) They provide a more stable surface from which to work.
B) The mats can be slid into position from the edge of the pit.
C) The athlete may be placed on plywood, if she is in an awkward position that cannot be accommodated by a spine board.
D) Plywood can be moved and/or cut to accommodate the situation.
E) All of the above

Question 21

Which of the following methods should be used if an athlete is prone in the water, and a rescuer is attempting to protect the cervical spine?

A) Head-splint turnover
B) Head-splint technique
C) Head-chin support technique

Question 22

Which of the following are the primary mechanisms of injury in diving?

A) The diver's head striking the diving board or platform
B) Head collisions with the bottom of the pool
C) Slipping and falling on the pool deck
D) A & B
E) A & C

Question 23

The _____________ is the sloped set of mats surrounding the point where athletes place the tip of the pole in order to initiate the vault.

A) landing pit
B) front bun
C) vault box
D) None of the above

Question 24

Which of the following steps should occur first when a potentially catastrophic injury occurs in a pool?

A) The emergency action plan should be activated.
B) All athletes should exit the water carefully.
C) All activity in the pool should stop immediately.
D) The rescuer should call out to the athlete to obtain information about the problem.

Question 25

An athlete who has landed entirely on the bun of a pole vault pit can be spine boarded using, in large part, normal techniques and procedures. In the event that the athlete is in an awkward position or has landed in the box, a vertical lift may be warranted for extrication.

A) Both statements are true.
B) Only the first statement is true.
C) Only the second statement is true.
D) Both statements are false.

Question 26

When considering spine boarding and extrication of a pole vaulter, the techniques and methods used for this challenging environment are likely to mimic which of the following situations?

A) Removal of an athlete from a football field
B) Removal of an athlete from a shallow pool
C) Removal of an athlete from a gymnastics pit
D) Removal of an athlete from a car

Question 27

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) mandates mat requirements for the pole vault. Which of the following explains their requirements?

A) The landing mat must be 19 feet 8 inches behind the standards.
B) The landing mat must be 20 feet 2 inches long and 32 inches high.
C) The standards must be padded and must be more than 13 feet 8 inches apart.
D) All of the above

Question 28

When considering collegiate- and international-level diving, a variety of diving surfaces and apparatuses are used. If you consider a diving tower, which of the following is not a typical platform height?

A) 5 meters
B) 2 meters
C) 7 meters
D) 10 meters

Question 29

Which of the following should be avoided in order to prevent pole vault-related injuries?

A) Using a pole that is too short or too small for an athlete, resulting in pole breakage
B) Using a pole that is too large for an athlete, thus minimizing their ability to generate adequate momentum
C) Providing athletes with a push during practice, which encourages athletes to use poles that are too large.
D) All of the above

Question 30

During either a shallow-water or deep-water rescue, how is an athlete placed on a spine board?

A) A log roll is performed, which is facilitated by the athlete's buoyancy in the water.
B) The spine board is submerged and floated beneath the athlete.
C) The lifeguard's buoy can double as a cervical collar. Using it in conjunction with the spine board, the rescuer can secure the athlete and extricate him from the water.
D) None of the above

Question 31

Which of the following are special considerations associated with potentially catastrophic injuries in ice hockey?

A) The athletic trainer must be sure not to slip and come in contact with the athlete.
B) Stepping over top of the athlete is always contraindicated when on the ice.
C) The helmet and shoulder pads of a hockey player should be addressed similarly to what is done for a football player.
D) Securing a hockey player to a spine board must be slower in order to accommodate for the slippery playing surface.
E) All of the above

Question 32

Which of the following might an ice hockey player describe as the mechanism of injury that resulted in a cervical spine injury?

A) Sliding headfirst into the boards, axially loading the spine
B) Crashing into the boards with the neck in a flexed position upon impact
C) Falling into the boards after having been hit from behind
D) All of the above

Question 33

With respect to a rescuer's water entry to reach an unresponsive athlete in a pool, which of the following statements is not true?

A) A shallow-water entry can be used by the clinician.
B) A deep-water entry can be used, during which the clinician rotates 180 degrees while lowering herself into the pool.
C) The breaststroke should be used to minimize waves.
D) The crawl or freestyle stroke should be used in order to reach the athlete quickly.

Question 34

Currently, the rate of catastrophic injury in the pole vault stands at two per year with a fatality rate of one per year. Based on current data and estimates, the number of pole-vault-related injuries is likely to increase.

A) Both statements are true.
B) Only the first statement is true.
C) Only the second statement is true.
D) Both statements are false.

Question 35

The ____________ is the area where athletes land following their attempt in the pole vault.

A) landing pit
B) front bun
C) vault box
D) None of the above

Question 36

In the event that cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is required, an athlete should not be extricated from the water prior to being strapped in place. Special attention must also be paid to maintaining cervical spine stabilization and avoiding slippage of the athlete from the board.

A) True for both statements
B) True for only the first statement
C) True for only the second statement
D) False for both statements