1 | Proper Positioning

supine position

Trauma patients are often confined to the […] as a result of spinal immobilization measures.

spinal immobilization

Trauma patients are often confined to the supine position as a result of […] measures.

flexibility

Some circumstances can warrant […] in positioning if local clinical guidelines permit.

facial and airway trauma

Patients with […] who can maintain their airway while sitting up may be placed in a cervical collar in a seated position.

cervical collar

A patient with facial and airway trauma who can maintain their airway while sitting up can be placed in a […] in a seated position.

seated position

Patients with facial and airway trauma who can maintain their airway while sitting up may be placed in a cervical collar in a […] rather than being restricted to a supine position.

local clinical guidelines

Positioning flexibility for trauma patients should only be used if permitted by […].

position of comfort

Conscious medical patients should be maintained in their […] if they are not placed in an SMR device.

SMR device

Conscious medical patients should be maintained in their position of comfort if they are not placed in a […].

spinal motion restriction (SMR)

Conscious medical patients should be maintained in their position of comfort if they are not placed in […].

unconscious medical patients

[…] who do not require other interventions, such as BVM ventilation, should be placed on their side with the head elevated.

on their side

Unconscious medical patients who do not require other interventions should be placed […] with the head elevated.

head elevated

Unconscious medical patients who do not require other interventions should be placed on their side with the […] if not contraindicated.

aspiration

Placing an unconscious medical patient on their side with the head elevated helps minimize the risk of […].

ear-to-sternal-notch position

Unconscious patients requiring airway and ventilation interventions are usually best maintained in the […].

ear and sternal notch horizontally aligned

In the ear-to-sternal-notch position, the patient's head is elevated until the […].

sniffing position

The ear-to-sternal-notch position is often referred to as the […] in nonobese patients.

ramped position

The ear-to-sternal-notch position is often referred to as the […] in obese patients.

upper airway patency

Maintaining ear-to-sternal-notch alignment helps maximize […].

effective ventilation

Ear-to-sternal-notch alignment maximizes upper airway patency, allowing for […] and, if required, endotracheal intubation.

endotracheal intubation

Ear-to-sternal-notch alignment helps maximize upper airway patency, allowing for effective ventilation and, if required, […].

mechanics of ventilation

The ear-to-sternal-notch position improves the […] with both spontaneous breathing and BVM ventilation.

spontaneous breathing

The ear-to-sternal-notch position improves the mechanics of ventilation with both […] and BVM ventilation.

BVM ventilation

The ear-to-sternal-notch position improves the mechanics of ventilation with both spontaneous breathing and […].