A six-foot long rigid plastic board designed originally to immobilize a patient’s spine, used in combination with a c-collar and “head bed,” a device that holds the patient’s head in place. The board is all plastic, in order to be X-ray transparent. In recent years, studies have shown that backboard use for spinal immobilization is ineffective at best. The device, however, is still frequently used for extrication: removing patients from cars, beds, floors, etc. It is also used to provide rigid support for patients during CPR.
(Definition provided by author.)