Moving a casualty and calling for help
- Move a casualty only when necessary — to remove them from danger, or to give treatment — and do it without worsening the injury.
- Use the correct techniques and enough people; protect the head and spine of an injured casualty.
- Obtain radio-medical advice for any serious case, giving the casualty's condition and the treatment given.
- Record the casualty's condition and the treatment, and prepare information for a possible evacuation.
A casualty is moved only when there is a good reason — immediate danger, or to give life-saving treatment — because moving an injured person can worsen the injury. When a move is needed it is done with the right technique and enough people, protecting the head and spine. For anything beyond simple first aid, radio-medical advice is obtained early: a doctor ashore can guide treatment with the ship's resources and advise whether the casualty needs to be evacuated. The first aider records what they find and do, which supports that advice and any handover.
WARNING — Move a casualty only when you must Moving an injured casualty can worsen the injury, so move them only to remove them from danger or to give essential treatment, and do it with the correct technique and enough hands.
TIP — Radio-medical advice early For any serious case, obtain radio-medical advice without delay. A doctor ashore guides the treatment and advises on evacuation; the first aider's recorded observations are exactly what that doctor needs.