Kemp USA MCI Spineboard Field Manual | SOP & Deployment Guide

How to Guides - Product Field Manual SOPs - Luminary Global

Kemp USA MCI Spineboard Field Manual | SOP & Deployment Guide

Category: Manual Stretchers & Gurneys

Difficulty Level: Tier 4: Professional or Advanced Training Required

Get the Complete Field Manual

Download the official step-by-step PDF guide.

📥 Download PDF Guide

Written by: Valerie Ellis Lavin

Quick Overview

The Kemp USA MCI Disaster Spineboard is a rigid, full-body spinal immobilization device used by EMS, fire-rescue, and tactical personnel to extricate and transport suspected spine-injured patients during land-based mass casualty incidents.

The MCI Spineboard is engineered as a high-volume, cost-effective tool for agencies requiring deep inventory surge capacity. Its single-piece, hollow-molded polyethylene shell maintains spinal alignment across uneven terrain while its seamless construction prevents fluid ingress and simplifies decontamination. The body is fully radiolucent, allowing X-ray imaging without moving the patient and reducing both time-to-diagnosis and secondary injury risk. Twenty-one oversized, recessed handholds distributed along the perimeter allow coordinated lifts by teams of two, four, or six or more personnel with gloved hands.

Patient securement relies on ten molded pins, which are the sole authorized attachment points for speed-clip or fast-clip restraint straps. The board is delivered as a standalone component and is operationally ineffective without a compatible strapping system and Head Immobilization Device procured separately. The chest strap is applied first to anchor the patient's core, followed by the pelvis and legs, with the head secured last to prevent it from acting as a pivot point if the body shifts during movement.

This device carries a critical land-use-only designation. Its hollow polyethylene shell provides no buoyancy and will not float, creating an extreme drowning hazard if deployed in water rescue environments. The maximum load capacity is 600 lbs (272 kg), inclusive of the patient and all attached equipment, and the shell may become brittle in extreme sub-zero temperatures, requiring pre-deployment inspection for stress fractures.

Field Application Steps

1. SCENE SAFETY AND EXTRICATION PATH CONFIRMATION: Confirm the scene is safe for personnel entry before committing your team. Identify and visually confirm a clear extrication route from the patient's location to the treatment or transport area.

2. ASSIGN TEAM LEADER AND ESTABLISH C-SPINE CONTROL: Place one provider immediately at the patient's head to manually stabilize the cervical spine. This provider assumes the Team Leader role and retains command authority for all patient movement commands throughout the operation.

3. CONDUCT PRIMARY PATIENT ASSESSMENT: The Team Leader performs a primary assessment, confirms that criteria for spinal immobilization are met, and communicates the plan to both the patient and the team. Remaining team members retrieve the MCI Spineboard, strap system, and Head Immobilization Device simultaneously.

4. STAGE THE BOARD PARALLEL TO THE PATIENT: Place the spineboard flat on the ground parallel to the patient on the designated side for the log-roll. Ensure the board surface is clear and positioned to receive the patient at center.

5. EXECUTE THE LOG-ROLL TRANSFER: Position a minimum of three providers: Team Leader at the head maintaining C-spine control, Position 2 at the shoulders and chest, Position 3 at the hips and legs. On the Team Leader's count, roll the patient as a single unit onto their side while a fourth provider slides the spineboard firmly against the patient's back.

6. LOWER PATIENT ONTO BOARD: On the Team Leader's command, the team smoothly lowers the patient onto the center of the board. Make minor positional adjustments to center the patient before any strapping begins.

7. SECURE TORSO FIRST: Attach the chest strap through the molded pins to anchor the patient's core to the board. Do not route straps through the handholds. Securing the torso first prevents the patient from sliding during all subsequent securement steps.

8. SECURE PELVIS AND LEGS: Apply straps across the pelvis, then the legs, working from the chest downward. Verify each strap is routed through the molded pins and seated correctly before moving to the next point.

9. APPLY HEAD IMMOBILIZATION DEVICE LAST: Install the Head Immobilization Device base, then the head blocks, then the forehead and chin straps. The head is always secured last. If secured first, it acts as a pivot point should the body shift during transport.

10. REASSESS BEFORE MOVEMENT: Quickly reassess pulse, motor function, and sensation in all four extremities after strapping is complete. Do not initiate movement until reassessment is confirmed.

11. POSITION TEAM AT HANDHOLDS AND EXECUTE LIFT: Personnel distribute evenly along the board's perimeter handholds to balance the patient's weight across all lift personnel. On the Team Leader's count, all personnel lift simultaneously using leg drive, not back strain, and proceed along the pre-planned extrication route.

Equip Yourself: Kemp USA MCI Disaster Spineboard – High-Volume Emergency Backboard

Ensure you have the right gear before an emergency strikes.

View Product

LEGAL DISCLAIMER & SAFETY WARNING:
The information provided in this Luminary Global Field Manual is strictly for educational and informational purposes. It is not a substitute for formal medical, tactical, or professional training. In the event of a medical emergency, immediately seek professional help or contact emergency services. Luminary Global assumes no liability for the misuse of equipment, improper application of techniques, or any injuries/damages resulting from the use of these guidelines. Always rely on your official agency training, local laws, and established protocols during a crisis.