If you need a full blown definition of Battle’s Sign, you can check the link above, which takes you to Wikipedia’s definition. The quick definition of Battle’s Sign is bruising over the mastoid process, which is that chunk of bone sticking out behind your ear.
You’re looking for this because it is an indication of fracture at the back of the base of the skull.
This is something every ski patroler should look at each year, since it is such an integral part of back-boarding and spine management.
In this spinal immobilization movie, the EMT does straps shoulders first, then feet, and then works down the body: chest, hips, thighs and calf. when we practice, we do shoulders and chest first, so that if the patient needs to vomit, they can be rolled without adding to the neck injury. If you just have the legs and the shoulders done, then the neck can’t be stabilized why you roll the backboard, because the mid body slides to the bottom of the board.
I also have some personal problems with using a whole roll of tape to immobilize the head and secure it to the backboard, but maybe they didn’t have any velcro straps. But, securing the hands and arms by taping the thumbs together is an interesting technique…
