Peter Antevy shows how to use SAM splints in the field. Learn the three basic folds (C, reverse-C, T), how to cut and secure them safely, and why you check circulation and sensation before and after. SAM splints won't show up on X-rays or CT scans.
No — the SAM splint will not interfere with X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs.
Two attempts.
ACE bandage (avoid using Coban).
Trauma shears for cutting; fold exposed aluminum to avoid sharp edges; use cling or 4x4s for extra padding.
Chapters
Foreign.
Today we're going to be going over the SAM splints. The SAM splints are going to come out and they're going to replace the pro splints that we have on the trucks. Currently, the sand splints were tried out in the field by a few stations, so decision was made to use the sand splints to replace the pro splints. Now we're going to go over the different sizes of the sand splints, the components and how to use them. The different sizes that you will see coming out to the field are going to be the finger splint, the 9 inch wrist splint, the 36 inch splint, and also the 36 inch extra large splint. If the SAM splint is being used on the patient, remember, the SAM splint will not interfere with any X rays, CT scans or MRIs. Prior to showing you on how to use a SAM splint and how to set them up, we want to go over some fundamentals when it comes to splinting. Remember, every time we go and splint a patient, we want to make sure that we check for circulation, motor and sensation. Prior and after splinting. The samples will be used for any extremity injury where you suspect an underlining orthopedic injury. Also, when assessing for circulation, you can also use your pleth waveform by placing your SpO2 sensor distal to the site of the injury. When splinting an injury, we want to make sure that we splint that injury in position that was found. If CMS is compromised, remember you do have two attempts to go ahead and realign the injury. When immobilizing an injury, remember we want to immobilize the injury below and above the injury site. When using the SAM splint, there's three basic curves. You're going to have the C curve.
You're going to have the reverse C curve.
And then you're going to have the T curve.
Prior to splitting any extremities, we want to make sure that we check for CMS before. Couple ways we can do that is by checking for distal pulses as well, we can go ahead and place our SpO2 sensor onto the patient's finger and check for plucked waveform. Once we're ready to splint this patient, we can go ahead and pick our correct size SAM splint. There will be multiple SAM splints in your red bag as well as every rescue and engine will have a universal cell. They'll have multiple different sizes in there, as well as some ace bandages, some cling. So we're ready to splint. We're going to pick our size. We're going to take it out of the packaging.
Now, if we pick a sand splint that we believe is too large for our patient, we can go ahead and unfold it, we can go ahead and measure it. And these sand splints are made to be easily cut by using just your basic trauma shears.
Once you have the correct size you want, we want to go ahead and pick which fold we want to use. Anytime we go ahead and make a cut. Remember, we have some exposed aluminum right here. We want to make sure we make a fold in there so that way we don't cause any injuries to the patient.
So at this point, I'm going to go ahead and make my C fold.
And now we can go and place the patient's extremity into the C fold.
Once we have the patient's extremity into the sand splint, now we can go ahead and wrap it. Remember, when securing the sand splints to the patient's extremity, we want to refrain from using coban, as coban will not allow any stretching and may cause compartment syndrome to the patient's extremity. So the preferred method to use when securing a patient's extremity to the same splint is an ACE bandage. This will have some stretch to it just in case a patient does have some swelling. So we always want to make sure if we have a fracture to the middle of the arm here, we always want to make sure that we're going to splint below and above the injury site.
Now that we secured our patient's arm to the sand splint, we want to make sure that we confirm that we still have good CMS with our patient. So we want to make sure we're still getting good pulses. Whether we feel for a pulse or we use our SpO2 sensor to check for plug waveform. We also want to make sure that we check for sensory and motion with the patient's extremity after splinting. If you notice, prior to splinting in your patient's extremities, extra padding is needed. Consider using cling or 4x4s. The EMS captains will be coming around the next few weeks to go ahead and do some training on the sand splints as well. The crews can get their hands and practice using sand splints before you see them coming out to the trucks. As always, thank you for watching. If you have any questions, please reach out to Medical Service Division.
