Q1:

What are the slots in the middle of the "Ultra" backboard for?

A:

Those slots are for child immobilization. This board was designed so that an adult as well as a child could be placed on this board and immobilized.

Q2:

Is it a safe practice to use the pins in the handholds of your backboard to lift with?

A:

I assume that you are talking about performing a vertical lift with the patient on one of our boards. The answer in that situation would be no. We would always want you to take into consideration patient safety and patient care. The best solution for a vertical lift would be to immobilize the patient on a backboard then place the patient into a vertical lift device such as a bracket stretcher or similar device. In this manner you could have a rescuer hook into the same lifting points and stay with the patient as they are being extricated.

Q3:

We see more and more larger patients all the time in the field, can a wider backboard be made?

A:

Currently we manufacture an 18" wide backboard called the MAXI-WIDE™. There have been two factors in the past that only allowed you to go so wide. One was the width of the ambulance cot and the second was the width of the storage space on an ambulance. With the coming of age of wider surfaces on cots, and with wider cot frames that issue has gone away. The remaining issue is, if you got a wider backboard, where would you store or carry it?

Q4:

We have been using your semi disposable loop lock backboard straps, can we get them in quick clip design?

A:

Yes they are available through your local distributor, they come in white and blue.

Q5:

I have a question about your backboards. At our local squad we use a special strapping technique that requires pins in the top hand holds of our backboards, do you offer pins in those holes?

A:

Sure we do, just ask your distributor to have your board customized with the pins in the handholds on top and when we make your boards we will add them for you.

Q6:

I was recently cleaning up some of our backboards and noticed some small holes in the outside edge of the boards. Is this normal or do we have a bad board?

A:

While I can't be certain, because I haven't seen your board, it is normal to have holes in the outside edge of the boards. These holes allow the air to escape from the shell of the board when the foam is expanding in the middle of the board. If the holes weren't there the foam would not uniformly expand and voids would be left in the board. Have your local distributor sales rep take a look at it make sure that is what you are seeing.

Q7:

I remember seeing an ad sometime back for a yellow vacuum splint that EP+R was making, is that splint still available?

A:

Not that splint, we have replace it with a new line of splints that will become available with the next 60 days. We will have a full line of semi disposable splints, reusable splints and a full body mattress that will be very cost effective.

Q8:

We use van type ambulances and space is at a premium for us. Do you have a "space saving" backboard?

A:

Yes we do. It is the "BAK-PAK Ultra™" backboard. It is 3/4" thick and has a 1 1/2" profile, that means you can "stack" two Ultra backboards in a 3" space. They are made to "nest" together. The Ultra also carries a 1000# weight rating.

Q9:

I like the Spider Strap, but keep losing them to other departments because our name is not on them. I know that you can put our names on our backboards, can you put our department name on the Spider Straps that we order?

A:

Yes we can. We can have up to 19 letters and spaces put on the Spider Straps with Black, Gold or White embroidery.

Q1:

What is the difference between the KED™, the KODE I™ and the KODE 2™ vests?

A:

There are only minor differences between the KED and the KODE 1, and they are in fact only cosmetic. There are 15 major improvements to the KODE 2 from the KED and KODE I, and we will be happy to send those improvements to you.

Q2:

I recently saw the KODE 2 advertisement. I saw two straps in the ad that I didn't know what they were for. Can you tell me what they are for?

A:

Those two straps are stored on the outside of the carry bag and are not attached to the KODE 2 device at all. The yellow strap is a deceleration strap and is used to pull the shoulders back into the device and helps to put the cervical spine in proper alignment. The two orange straps are called take down straps and are used to secure the patient to the backboard, in the case of finding a standing patient that has cervical pain or mechanism of injury that would indicate cervical immobilization. The procedures are laid out in the new manual for the KODE 2 that will be coming out with the next weeks and will accompany all new KODE 2's that are sold. If you have a KODE 2 and do not have a manual, contact your distributor that sold you the device and they will be able to obtain one for you. Or you may simply download it from our site here.

Q3:

While recently talking with an instructor friend of mine, we were discussing the KED and the new KODE 1 and KODE 2 devices. He reminded me of the many uses for these devices. Are these uses approved by you as the manufacturer and Rick Kendrick as the inventor of the KED?

A:

Well, while we were not present at the discussion and don't know exactly what uses you are referring to, we can say that there are many uses for the device that are approved by myself and Emergency Products + Research. If you will ask your local distributor for a KODE 2 manual it has many of those uses outlined in the manual. Keep in mind that we all in Emergency medicine in the field need to remain flexible, because not one injury will present itself to you in the same way very often.

Q1:

How can we tell if we pull enough traction with the Kendrick Traction Device, since there is no gauge on the device?

A:

The short answer to this question is: Pull traction until you see the patient experience pain relief. The long answer is you check to see that you have equal length in both legs, along with pain relief.

Q2:

Should the ankle hitch be applied with the shoe on or off when using the Kendrick Traction Device?

A:

Since the ankle strap attaches above the ankle bone, the hitch can be applied either with the shoe on or off, depending on your local protocols. We also manufacturer a "Boot" hitch now for the KTD, which allows you to apply the device with work boots on or ski boots on. This boot hitch can be purchased separately for those of you that currently have a KTD and want just the boot hitch. All new KTD's now being sold come with both hitches.

Q3:

The KTD doesn't appear to be stable enough to be a splint, is it?

A:

Let's think about the definition of a splint. The definition says that a splint is a device that immobilizes the joints above and below the site of a fracture. None of the "Traction Splints" on the market meet that definition. They are all in fact "Devices" for splinting a femur fracture.

Q4:

The pole on the KTD appears flimsy and flexible, is it?

A:

Not not at all. The pole is made of tempered T6 aluminum alloy 6061. It is used in a straight line compression mode and is not subject to splintering as are some other materials that are used. Properly used, the KTD will allow up to 100 lbs. of traction which is 4 - 5 times more than is needed for a femur fracture.

Q5:

Can we use the KTD in conjunction with the MAST trousers?

A:

The KTD can be applied and the MAST trousers applied over it. Not only do you get the benefit of traction splinting in this manner, but you also get the benefit of compression of the fracture site.

Q6:

I recently had a patient that had bi-lateral femur fractures, can I use the KTD on a patient with bi-lateral femur fractures?

A:

Yes you can, but you will need two KTD's. If you look at the situation closely you will see that two KTD's. require less ambulance storage space than any other one traction device, and two KTD's. cost less than any other one traction device on the market. Plus you can use the KTD's. in conjunction with MAST trousers and get the added benefit of circumferential pressure on the fracture site.

Q7:

Why do the "patients" in our training sessions claim they feel no traction when we practice on them with the KTD?

A:

First of all, your patient does not have a broken femur and thus feels no pain relief when traction is applied. Secondly, the upper thigh system is 1 1/2" wide, and makes approximately 18" of circumferential contact, creating approximately 25 square inches of webbing contact. Traction pressure is more evenly distributed (less than 1# psi of pressure), thus reducing or eliminating discomfort due to "point" pressure.

Q8:

Can we use the KTD on adult, child and pediatric patients?

A:

Yes you can the device is easily adjusted for the size of the patient. Local protocols should tell you at which size patients you should start using traction for femur fractures. See what the Ohio Pediatric Safety Board has said about the KTD in pediatric patients here.

Q1:

Our old orange C02 powered child seat recently gave up the ghost. Our distributor tells me that they don't think they are being made anymore, are they?

A:

Your distributor is right, the orange model (C02) powered, has been discontinued, but you can get the EP-70 Responder-AV™ model, which is undergoing redesign modifications right now. Check with your local distributor and they can give you pricing.

Q2:

We recently purchased a EP-70 Responder-AV car seat for use on our ambulance, is there any recommended storage instructions?

A:

Yes there are. First it is recommended that you store the seat in the climate controlled inside area of the ambulance if at all possible. Secondly if you have to store the unit in an outside compartment, it is recommended that you seal the unit in a vacuum sealed or zippered type bag to keep all exhaust gases from reaching the material. In a recent study it was found that 60% of all outside compartment gaskets did not adequately seal the compartments after a period of use.

Q3:

We are big fans of our Spider-Strap and have utilized it in several situations with where children were involved. Is there anything you can offer in the way of handling these situations even better?

A:

Absolutely. While the Spider-Strap is, indeed, an extremely versatile piece of equipment, Emergency Products + Research has just introduced the Pedi-Spider™ strap. This device was designed by Lisa Something, an EMT from Mississippi. It was designed exclusively for pediatric patients up to approximately 4 feet tall. Check it out here. For even smaller patients up to 40lbs, you might ant to consider our Responder-AV air filled child transport seat.