North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

What is the first step in the process of moving a patient during rapid extrication?

1. Always Manual immobilize

2. Use a backboard

3. Assess vital signs

4. Call for additional help

The correct answer is: Always Manual immobilize

The correct answer emphasizes the crucial importance of manual immobilization as the first step in rapid extrication. This process involves stabilizing the patient's head and neck immediately to prevent any potential movement that could exacerbate injuries, particularly spinal injuries. By ensuring that the patient is immobilized manually before moving them, emergency responders can significantly reduce the risk of further harm during the extrication process. This step is essential in maintaining spinal precautions and providing a safer extraction environment, which can be critical in emergency situations. The other options, while relevant to patient care, do not directly address the immediate need to protect the patient from additional injury during the initial stages of extrication. For example, using a backboard is important, but it follows after ensuring that the patient is properly immobilized. Assessing vital signs is a key component of patient management, but it takes place after extrication to monitor the patient's condition. Calling for additional help may be necessary depending on the situation, but this step should not precede the critical action of immobilizing the patient first. Therefore, manual immobilization serves as a fundamental priority in ensuring patient safety during rapid extrication.