Kendrick Extrication Device · Spinal Immobilization ·May 20, 2025

How to Use the Kendrick Extrication Device for Spinal Immobilization

Every year, over 2 million people are injured in motor vehicle crashes across the United States. Of those, approximately 12,000 suffer spinal cord injuries, often during or immediately after the crash. Nearly 25% of those spinal injuries happen not from the collision itself, but from improper movement during rescue and extrication. This is why the Kendrick Extrication Device, or KED, exists. It’s not just a fancy strap system; it’s a critical tool designed to prevent tragedy from becoming catastrophe.

So if you’re an EMT, firefighter, or just someone who wants to understand how trained pros immobilize patients the right way, this is your crash course.

What Is the Kendrick Extrication Device?

The Kendrick Extrication Device is a semi-rigid spinal immobilization tool designed for removing patients from vehicles (or tight spaces) when spinal injury is suspected. It's made from durable nylon and plastic reinforcements, with multiple adjustable straps to secure the torso, head, and legs. Basically, it’s a spine’s best friend during a bad day.?

The KED isn’t flashy. It doesn’t beep or glow or fold into a tiny cube. But when someone’s spine is at risk, it gets the job done fast and safe.?

Step-By-Step Guide To Use A KED

Step 1: Scene Safety and Initial Assessment

Before you touch the KED, ask yourself: Is the scene safe?

Turn off the car ignition.
Stabilize the vehicle (wheel blocks, parking brake).
Check for fire, leaking fluids, or unstable surroundings.

Next, perform a primary assessment:

Check airway, breathing, and circulation (the ABCs).
Determine the patient’s level of consciousness.
Manually stabilize the head and neck immediately if spinal injury is suspected.

Here’s the deal: if you don’t control the scene and secure the neck first, you’ve already blown it.

Step 2: Prep the KED

Open the Kendrick Extrication Device and lay it out next to the patient. You’ll notice:

A rigid back with side flaps
Color-coded torso straps
Two leg straps
Two head straps
Chin and forehead pads

Get familiar. Because once you’re in the thick of it, you won’t have time to guess which strap goes where.

Pro tip: Pre-roll and tuck the straps for faster access. The last thing you want is a spaghetti mess when time is ticking.

Step 3: Positioning the Device

Here's the finesse move: slide the KED between the seat and the patient’s back. Do this slowly and carefully. You might need to lift the arms slightly (without moving the spine) to get it into place.

Make sure the bottom of the KED rests just above the tailbone—not too high, not too low. It should support from the sacrum all the way to the base of the skull.

Ruthless truth? If it’s crooked or too high, you're not immobilizing anything—you’re just wasting time.

Step 4: Secure the Torso Straps

Start with the middle (yellow) strap. Then do the bottom (red), and finally the top (green). Don’t crank them like you’re strapping a kayak to your roof rack—firm but gentle is the name of the game.

Check for even tension. Uneven straps = uneven support = spinal misalignment.

Note: If the patient is pregnant or has a major abdominal injury, you might need to modify strap placement. Life doesn’t follow the manual, so don’t be afraid to adapt smartly.

Step 5: Secure the Leg Straps

Bring the leg straps under each leg, and cross them before securing. Why cross them? Because this provides extra pelvic stability and keeps the device from riding up.

Some people skip the leg straps. Don’t. That’s lazy, and lazy doesn’t belong on a rescue team.

Step 6: Immobilize the Head

Now that the torso and legs are secured, it’s time for the head. Place the Head Immobilization on either side of the head (or rolled towels if you’re out of supplies). Apply the forehead and chin straps.

Key rule: the head should be in a neutral, in-line position. If the patient’s head is twisted and you try to force it straight, stop. Let it stay in its natural position and pad the sides instead.

Overcorrection can do more harm than help. Precision over perfection.

Step 7: Monitor and Reassess

Just because the EMS Extrication Device is in place doesn’t mean your job is done. Continue monitoring the patient:

Is the airway still open?
Are they showing signs of distress?
Are straps still snug but not cutting off circulation?

Reassess every few minutes, especially during movement. Don’t assume things stay stable once secured. Gravity, bumps, and panic are unpredictable.

Step 8: Controlled Extrication

Now comes the big move. With at least two rescuers (three is better), begin the extrication. One person stabilizes the head. Two others lift and pivot the patient out in one smooth motion.

Move the patient onto a long spine board if necessary, and prepare for transport.

What the KED Is Not For

Let’s cut through the hype. The Kendrick Extrication Device isn’t magic. It’s not appropriate for:

Patients in cardiac arrest (wasting time here could cost a life)
People in full-body seizures
Situations with unstable scenes (if the car is on fire, get them out fast, safely, but fast)

This tool helps protect the spine, but if the patient’s about to be crushed, burned, or bleed out, you’re not helping by playing strap-up games.

Pros of the KED

Extremely effective in tight spaces
Lightweight and portable
Reduces spinal movement during vehicle extrications
Works well for both pediatric and adult patients

How Training Makes or Breaks a Rescue

You can own the best gear in the world, but if your team isn’t trained to use it, it’s as useful as a parachute in a submarine. Too many first responders treat the Kendrick Extrication Device like a checklist item instead of a life-saving instrument. Real-world training—not just textbook drills—is non-negotiable. EMTs and fire crews should practice using the KED in various vehicles, with patients of different sizes, under pressure. When you’re sweating, shaking, and racing the clock, muscle memory is what keeps your spine stable.

Final Takeaway: Spine First, Everything Else Second

At the end of the day, spinal immobilization isn’t about fancy equipment or textbook techniques, it’s about preserving life and quality of life. The Kendrick Extrication Device isn’t just a tool; it’s a line in the sand between safe removal and permanent damage. Used correctly, it protects the spine in some of the most unforgiving rescue scenarios out there. Used poorly or skipped entirely, it puts lives at risk.

If you’re in emergency response, you don’t get second chances. Train with the KED until it’s second nature. Know its limits, master its strengths, and never forget: your patient is trusting you with every strap you tighten. Make it count. Because when the sirens fade and the dust settles, it’s not the gear that saves them, it’s how you use it.

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