The Kendrick Extrication Device, also known as the KED, is a device used to remove victims of traffic collisions from motor vehicles.
This semi-rigid brace holds the head in place, with the neck torso in an anatomically neutral position. This position reduces the possibility of additional injury to these areas when disengaging the vehicle.

The KED usually has the following features.

1. two hook-and-loop straps for the head
2. three adjustable trunk attachments (different colours can be attached to the right lap belt)
3. two loops attached to the legs.

The Kendrick extrication device has many advantages.

1. it is economical and can be applied quickly
2. it has coloured straps for easy identification
3. it can be inserted quickly and easily into the vehicle seat by one rescuer
4. it allows access to the airway
5. prevents even very serious and irreversible damage.
6. adapts to any body size.

How is the KED applied?

The following are the main steps in using the Kendrick Extrication Device to extricate a casualty from a vehicle.

1. place the correct size neck brace around the casualty’s neck prior to applying the KED.
2. slide the person slowly forward so that the folded KED is introduced behind the back (the KED is then placed between the rear of the casualty and the rear of the vehicle)
3. the sides of the KED are unfolded under the armpits
4. the straps holding the KED in place are attached in a specific order.
first the middle straps, then those at the bottom, followed by the leg and head straps and, finally, the upper shoulders (which can be annoying when breathing), with the blank area between the head and the KED filled with padding of sufficient volume to minimise movement of the cervical spine.
5. the patient can be removed from the vehicle, rotated and secured to the spinal board.