NREMT Skills Sheet: Traction Splinting

Lead lab instructor Miles Hackney goes through the indication, contra-indications, and considerations for pulling traction on a mid-shaft femur fracture. Sign up for an upcoming EMT class to perfect this life saving intervention: bit.ly/EMT2k19
Traction splinting is one of the skills examinations for the NREMT Psycho-Motor Exam. After the traumatic and painful experience of suffering a femur fracture a traction splint can decrease risk to soft tissue and nervous function as well as assist in bleeding control. A careful and thorough assessment is necessary to rule out any other injury in the effected extremity, so check out our video detailing Rapid Trauma Assessment: • How to Perform a Rapid...
Thanks to BPM Paramedic & Education Specialist Katie, and our videographer and EMT instructor Matt.

[@wolfman5349]

I have 2 notes on this video, everything else I loved and learned from. Audio mixing I would lower into and outro music volume as it is higher pitched and shrieks on mobile speakers. Education wise I would love to see a 2 person team execute this sequence so as to see proper flow and setup for a team.

[@johnnyboy6429]

Thanks

[@lawrencecourtney6850]

I was taught not to put the straps over any joints. Also I ain’t ever touching feet without gloves

[@RogalDorn23]

I keep seeing demonstrations of the largest strap securing both legs to each other. Which way is correct?

[@BestPracticeMedicine]

Neither is necessarily the "right" way, especially because to effectively splint a femur you need to use a spinal immobilization device to secure the hips which will, in turn, secure both legs together. Securing the legs together with the traction splint is up the the provider's discretion.

[@tristanturbide864]

It’s not a big deal to be honest but I know I’m in college to be a paramedic and they taught us both legs to be covered with both straps