What is the function of a scoop stretcher?

• A. To transport equipment up the rescue route.
• B. To lift and carry patients without immobilization.
• C. To measure the patient in order to select a mattress.
• D. To immobilize and transfer a patient with suspected spinal injury while keeping alignment.

Answer: (D)

The scoop stretcher is used to immobilize and transfer a patient with suspected spinal injury while keeping the spine aligned. Its two half-shells cradle the patient and can be opened, slid around the patient without twisting, and then locked together to form a rigid platform. This design lets rescuers move the patient to a backboard or stretcher with minimal movement of the spine, preserving alignment and reducing the risk of further injury. It is especially helpful in confined spaces or uneven terrain and is typically used in combination with a cervical collar and immobilization straps. The other options describe tasks that aren’t about immobilization and spinal protection—transporting equipment, lifting without immobilization, or measuring for a mattress—so they don’t reflect the scoop stretcher’s purpose.