TQ7 - Staff Who Use Spinal Immobilisation Equipment

Purpose of this Guideline

To provide guidance to owners or operators of aquatic facilities and/or aquatic programs as to what initial training and entry qualifications are appropriate for those employed (voluntary or paid) who may be required to administer spinal immobilisation equipment.

Note: All aquatic facilities should provide spinal immobilisation equipment in accordance Work Health Safety Regulations and the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations – Safety Equipment

Background

The spine is made up of 33 separate bones, known as vertebrae, extending from the base of the skull to the coccyx (tailbone). Each vertebra surrounds and protects the spinal cord (nerve tissue). Fractures or dislocations to the vertebral bones may result in injury to the spinal cord. The direct mechanical injury from the traumatic impact can compress or sever the nerve tissue. This is followed by secondary injury caused by ongoing bleeding into the spinal cord as well as continued swelling at the injured site and surrounding area.

Diving into shallow water is a common spinal injury mechanism, as are slips and trips, common in wet areas like pool halls and changerooms.

Responsibilities

Employed rescuers are noted to hold a higher standard of care than untrained bystanders. The possibility of spinal injury must be considered in the overall management of all trauma victims at an aquatic facility.

Spinal immobilisation equipment and trained staff should be on hand to deliver timely advanced water rescue response to a casualty, given the enhanced risk of spinal injury in aquatic facilities.

Initial qualifications

Staff at an aquatic facility who have a duty of care to use spinal immobilisation equipment should hold at minimum:

• The current nationally recognised Pool Lifeguard skill set, or most recent superseded version, or successive replacement(s), regardless of whether deemed equivalent or non-equivalent; or,
• The below nationally recognised unit of competency, or most recent superseded version, or successive replacement(s), regardless of whether deemed equivalent or non-equivalent:

• SISCAQU021 Perform complex water rescues.

It is noted the Pool Lifeguard skill set includes the ‘Perform complex water rescues’ Unit of Competency: https://training.gov.au

REFERENCES

• Australian Resuscitation Council Guideline 9 – Management of Suspected Spinal Injury
• Safe Work Australia – A Guide to First Aid in the Workplace
• AS 2488-1995 Resuscitators intended for human use
• Australian Standard AS 60601.2.4:2018 - Medical electrical equipment Particular requirements for the basic safety and essential performance of cardiac defibrillators

PREVIOUS VERSIONS

• SE7 – SPINAL IMMOBILISATION EQUIPMENT, Issue 1, September 2017