This article refers to the medical term. For other uses, see stabilizer

Stabilizer

- Technology :* Stabilizer , surfaces to help keep aircraft under control. Includes:* Vertical stabilizer of airplanes* Tailplane or horizontal stabilizer* Stabilizer , fins on ships to counteract roll...

.

Stabilization is a process to help prevent shock in sick or injured people. Stabilization is often performed by the first person to arrive

Certified first responder

A certified first responder is a person who has completed a course and received certification in providing pre-hospital care for medical emergencies. They have more skill than someone who is trained in basic first aid but they are not a substitute for advanced medical care rendered by emergency...

 on scene, EMT

Emergency medical technician

Emergency Medical Technician or Ambulance Technician are terms used in some countries to denote a healthcare provider of emergency medical services...

s or nurses before or just after arrival in hospital. It includes controlling bleeding, arranging for proper evacuation, keeping patients warm with blankets, and calming them by providing personal attention and concern for their well-being.

It is particularly important in trauma

Trauma (medicine)

Trauma refers to "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident." It can also be described as "a physical wound or injury, such as a fracture or blow." Major trauma can result in secondary complications such as circulatory shock, respiratory failure and death...

 cases where spinal

Vertebral column

In human anatomy, the vertebral column is a column usually consisting of 24 articulating vertebrae, and 9 fused vertebrae in the sacrum and the coccyx. It is situated in the dorsal aspect of the torso, separated by intervertebral discs...

 injury is suspected to immobilize the cervical spine, or back. Failure to do so can cause permanent paralysis or death. In the field, spinal stabilization involves moving the person's back as a single unit with as many as 5 rescuers assisting, then applying a cervical collar

Cervical collar

A cervical collar is an orthopedic medical device used to support a patient's neck and head. It is also used by emergency personnel for victims of traumatic head or neck injuries, and can be used to treat chronic medical conditions....

 (which can be improvised from duct tape and cardboard), and securing victims to a solid-backed stretcher, long spine board

Long spine board

A spinal board, also known as a long spine board , longboard, spineboard, or backboard, is a patient handling device used primarily in pre-hospital trauma care designed to provide rigid support during movement of a patient with suspected spinal or limb injuries...

, or a vacuum mattress

Vacuum mattress

A vacuum mattress, or vacmat, is a medical device used for the immobilisation of patients, especially in case of a vertebra, pelvis or limb trauma . It is also used for manual transportation of patients for short distances...

.

Search and Rescue Technician

Search and rescue

Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...

 (aka SARTech.) trained in wilderness first aid have a protocol for verifying that the spine has not been hurt (clearing the cervical spine

Clearing the cervical spine

Clearing the cervical spine is the process by which medical professionals determine whether cervical spine injuries exist. This process can take place in the emergency department or take place in the field by appropriately trained EMS personnel. The following is based on the NEXUS criteria...

) when the victim is several hours or more from the hospital

Hospital

A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....

and evacuation may not be indicated. Without this technique it may be necessary to carry a suspected trauma victim out only to discover that he had no injury worthy of the effort and expense.