Buck Rogers Dept #5: poleless litter

[tangent]

Colby on AW wrote:
Trying to develop a litter similar to the poleless litter but improved in many ways.
Improvements
design so that casulaty can be dragged by one, two, or more individuals at a high rate of speed.
can be used during rapelling or to lower casulaty from upper floors in a MOUT enviornment.

will be extractable by STABO or jungle penetrator.

small enough to fit in a med sized pack or perhaps even a butt pack.

any other idea's.

Not sure of the materials yet. I need something strong enough to take a good beating maybe kevlar ? was thinking of a way to pressurize the casulaty as well to keep them from being jostled about too much maybe a c02 quick bladder that inflates and forms to the casualty ? any ideas would be appreciated.

[tangent]

tanks of compressed gas are eithor heavy or expensive, in addition to being bulky.
air is an underappreciated structural material, pumps can be light. ditto vaccume pumps.

plant stems are very strong in one direction only. these are usually flexible cylinders.

triangles are very strong - again in one direction.

very flimsy material can be cross-hatched to form very riged surfaces.

there was a sweedish system that involved vaccuming a flexible bladder of styrafoam beads to form fit arround a patient - ie: c-collar and imobilize fractures. became very ridged and could be x-rayd through.

I'm copying this over to MedTech to add to the "Buck Rogers" threads - you might get some good ideas from the vaccume pump discussion there:
http://medtech.syrene.net/forum

btw: anything pneumatic is not going to take well to being dragged.

[Reasonable Rascal]

Vacuum mattress, i.e. the Swedish device. Outstanding versatility but very bulky. We are talking a large backpack here for carrying. The outer material is PVC fabric, will not tolerate dragging over rough terrain very long but patching is very easy since it operates on a vacuum instead of inflation.

I've used them extensively and swear by them over any other method for effective spinal immobilization as well as using as a stair chair, etc, but they won't work in the application desired here.

RR

[Javahed]

Well,,,,,,

I use the Tactical extraction device from NArescue.com
http://www.narescue.com/stretchers/images_stretchers/TEDopen.gif
http://www.narescue.com/stretchers/images_stretchers/tedshoulder.jpg

Works great for a 2 person carry, also for a 4 person carry. It's really compact - I keep it in a side pocket on my assault vest.

Dan

[SwedeGlocker]

Hallo
We in sweden are issued a version that are called Jägar bår= Ranger litter. It works good in the begining but after some use it fall in pieses. I think that a good litter is a must in military operations and are thinking of bying LBTs Jungle Litter. Than i se Javaheds pics. How about some more info about it from a users?

[Reasonable Rascal]

SwedeGlocker, have you used the Germa mattress system then? That's the one I used extensively, all the various styles of splints. Wonderful devices.

Javahed, not familiar with that one though similar to one I have, packs smaller though with fewer handles, your device there that is. Might be worth checking out.

RR

[SwedeGlocker]

Yes, i have used Germa splints. It is standard issue in Swedich EMS but i have not seen it in the military. I can get contact info for a supplier if someone wants it?

Btw Witch is the swedich medical bag you are looking for? I can probably find some used ones if you want

[RESQDOC]

Best full size ultracompact litter is the Stingray, see it here:

http://www.galls.com/shop/viewProductDetail.jsp?item=PT744

Although not rated for lifting, we put THREE extrication straps through handles under the litter proper, all liked above with 'biners and a figure 8, and lift with that. Not as comfy as a tradition board, but works very well in the wet environments, very light, compact, tough. Folds to 12x12x2". And cheap too.

Best grab and go litter is the TED, as above per Javahed. Also works great and small enough to get in/on FR bags, vests, etc.

[Reasonable Rascal]

The bag I used was sold under the name BTLS bag here in the States. The owner's name was Bo Rehnberg, or Renberg (he Americanized it after a time). Lost contact with him about 3 years ago, love to find him again. Last I knew he lived in the Karlskona (sp?) area.

Not to change the subject, but are you familiar with the Tri-Cuff? Large/regular and small adult-child bladders on the same cuff? Outstanding device. I have one I saved for myself, would love to have more.

RR