Kendrick extrication device

Commonly carried on ambulances, a KED is typically used by an emergency medical technician, paramedic, or another first responder.

[1] Typically used in conjunction with a cervical collar, a KED is a semi-rigid brace that secures the head, neck and torso in an anatomically neutral position.

Its use is claimed to reduce the possibility of additional injuries to these regions during extrication, although its value has been questioned, as there is a lack of evidence to support its use.

The device can be quickly and easily inserted into the seat of a vehicle by a single rescuer, allows access to the airway and conforms to any body size.

The KED users' manual is sometimes used in these debates: it states the reason the top strap is last is a function of breathing and not the process of immobilization itself.

[1] A 2015 article in the Journal of Paramedic Practice said that although the device has been used since the 1970s, its "overall appropriateness in patient care should be viewed with caution" and there is a "lack of evidence to support its use".