For any injury or injury, the transportation of the victim is of paramount importance. At the same time, the movement of the victim, if performed without observing the rules, can become an additional damaging factor that will only aggravate the patient’s condition.
That is why doctors are convinced that the most effective and safe transportation of the victim is if it is taken care of by specialists. However, there are situations when it is not possible to call an ambulance. In addition, in some cases, the victim must be taken out as soon as possible from the place where he was injured – for example, if he is under the ruins, in a fire or smoke zone, etc. Of course, wait for the arrival of doctors in such a situation for the victim stands in the nearest safe place, where it should be delivered as soon as possible. In this case, during emergency transportation, deliberate disregard for the general rules of transportation and patient comfort is allowed, because the slightest delay can cost him his life.
More sparing is short-term transportation, when a person is moved a short distance, but the time factor is not critical. In this case, it is recommended to choose the optimal method of carrying, so as not to cause additional pain to the victim and not aggravate his condition.
General rules of transportation
Immediately before moving the victim, a thorough examination should be carried out to determine the method of carrying it. It is necessary to find out if a person has a spinal injury, in what condition his head, neck, abdomen, chest, pelvic bones and limbs are. In addition, you should make sure that the person is conscious. Otherwise, you should check if there is a pulse on the carotid artery and if the victim is breathing.
In the event that the injuries sustained by the victim are serious, it is recommended that transportation be carried out only on the condition that the arrival of doctors cannot be expected. Move such patients only in the position in which they were originally. In all other cases, the method of transportation is chosen depending on the general condition of the victim, the number of people ready to take part in his movement and the available means.
In particular, the carrying of victims on their hands can be organized by one or two rescuers. The use of a stretcher strap makes it possible to significantly lighten the load on their hands.
What is a stretcher strap
The stretcher strap is a belt made of tarpaulin 6,5 centimeters wide and up to 3,6 meters long. One end of the belt ends with a metal buckle, a meter from which a valve is provided on the belt – a special lining made of canvas fabric. Passing the free end of the belt through this valve leads to the formation of loops, the length of which can be adjusted using a metal buckle.
Directly on the spot, depending on the nature of the forthcoming transportation, the canvas belt will have to be converted into a strap folded in a figure-eight, ring or loop in the event that when moving the victim, the strap will need to be pulled. Carrying on such improvised means has established itself as one of the most effective ways to transport victims.
Transport preparation
In order for the canvas strap not to become an obstacle that only makes it difficult to transport the victim, it must be folded correctly. It should be remembered that if the cross of the belts is too high, the improvised tool will squeeze the neck, while its low location will lead to the strap slipping off the shoulders. The cross of a properly fitted strap falls at the level of the lower corners of the shoulder blades, and its loops hang along the body.
In order to ensure the most comfortable position of the victim, taking into account the injuries he received during transportation, the straps are folded in a figure-of-eight, loop or ring, in accordance with the following recommendations:
- To convert the strap into a “figure eight”, it must be unfolded and, passing the free end under the canvas lining, connect both ends of the strap with a metal buckle so that a figure is obtained in the form of two interconnected rings (numbers 8).
- The strap folded in a figure-of-eight should be put on the thumbs of outstretched hands without sagging, and its crossover falls on the back of the porter at the level of the lower corners of the shoulder blades. To do this, it must be properly adjusted to the height and physique of the porter. The size of the loops of a properly fitted strap should correspond to the span of the arms extended at shoulder level. Depending on the season, the length of the folded strap must be slightly increased or decreased, taking into account the clothes on the porter.
- Before using the strap, folded with a ring, it should be adjusted to the height of the porter. The length of the ring of a properly folded strap should be equal to the span of one outstretched arm and the other, bent at the elbow at a right angle.
- To fold the strap with a loop, its end is passed through the buckle to get a loop commensurate with the height of the porter (the loop must be worn over his shoulder).
- In the case of transporting the victim on a stretcher, the strap is folded into a figure of eight and put on so that its loops are located on the sides of the porters, and the strap is crossed on the back at the level of the shoulder blades.
- In the absence of a strap, you can make it yourself from belts. To obtain a webbing-ring, you must use two waist belts, and the “eight” can be assembled from three belts. To do this, with the help of two buckles, three belts are interconnected, and the remaining buckle is used to fix the free end of the belt. The impromptu strap thus obtained is folded into a figure eight.
Transportation on straps by one porter
Transportation of victims on the arms, back or shoulder is widely used when transferring injured people over short distances. The use of a stretcher strap folded in a ring or figure eight will help to significantly facilitate the work of porters.
In some cases, the strap is folded with a loop that the rescuer puts on, and its free end is attached to the victim’s vehicle. This method of transportation is especially relevant for victims far from civilization, for example, in the mountains, on the water or ski slopes, when they are transferred from the place of injury to the nearest medical aid points on available available means.
Consider the methods of transporting the victim by one porter using a strap folded in the three ways listed above.
Ring strap transport
This method of transportation is used to transfer victims in an unconscious state, who do not have bone fractures, over considerable distances, including up stairs or in the mountains. The strap is folded into a ring, which is put on the victim so that its lower part is under his buttocks, and the upper one is located on the back, above the armpits. Then the rescuer squats next to the victim and, putting his hands into the loops of the strap, as if putting on a backpack, slowly rises.
With this method of transfer, the victim, as it were, sits on a strap that presses him to the porter, holding him securely enough. Therefore, he may not hold on to his rescuer. In turn, the porter has free hands, which is especially important when moving, for example, in the mountains.
The main disadvantage of this method of transportation is the pressure exerted by the belt on the back of the injured. Because of this, such carrying is contraindicated for victims with chest injuries.
To carry them on straps, it is recommended to use the method of movement described below.
Transportation on a strap in the form of “eight”
The method of transportation, when the rescuer uses a strap folded by the “eight”, is used to evacuate conscious victims with moderate injuries from hard-to-reach places. This method provides for threading the strap on the legs of the victim, who is in a sitting position. Then the porter presses his back against the victim and throws the belt over his shoulder so that his cross falls under the buttocks of the victim, and slowly rises.
With this method of transportation, the strap does not compress the chest of the victim, but he must hold on to the shoulders or the belt of his rescuer. The porter, in turn, must also support the victim by the arms. This method is contraindicated when transporting victims whose upper limbs are damaged.
Both methods of movement described above are contraindicated in victims with fractures of the hip, pelvis or spine.
Transportation by dragging on a strap in the form of a loop
In some cases, it is necessary to transport the victim by dragging on available improvised means. In particular, if an injured or sick person has to be evacuated from the place of injury to the nearest medical facility on a raincoat, boat, skis or other improvised means, the rescuer will have to pull him over long distances.
In such cases, a strap folded in the form of a loop can become an excellent assistant for the porter. Having thrown a small loop constructed from a belt over his shoulder, the porter ties the remaining long end with a ship’s knot to an improvised means, on which the victim is to be transported.
Carrying on straps by two porters
Below are two ways to transport victims on straps by two porters and indications for their use.
In the first method, the porters carry the victim, moving “one after the other.” The strap folded in a figure-of-eight is put on in such a way that its cross part is between the legs of the victim, and its free loops are on the opposite shoulders of the rescuers. Having stood at the head of the victim facing each other, the porters go down on one knee, and, lifting the victim, seat him on the cross of the belt, after which they rise and begin to move. The victim is carried in a semi-sitting position, while he can be supported by a rescuer walking behind.
This method of manual transportation is not used for the evacuation of victims with pelvic injuries and bone fractures.
In the second case, the victim on the belt is between two porters walking side by side. The stretcher strap is folded in a “figure of eight” and the carriers pass its free loops through one through the right and the other through the left shoulder. The porters, descending behind the victim facing each other, one on the right and the other on the left knee, lift the victim, seat him on their closed knees and, putting the strap under his buttocks, rise to their feet and begin to move. The victim is located on the cross part of the belt and can be supported by both rescuers.
In this way, the victims can be transferred over relatively long distances, but it is not suitable for patients with fractures of long tubular bones.
Transportation on a stretcher with straps
Of particular advantage is the use of a stretcher for carrying victims. With this method of transportation, the victims are in relative rest and can take and maintain the most comfortable position for a long time, depending on the injuries received. This method of transportation is one of the easiest. It can be used to carry the victim over considerable distances if the load on the hands of the rescuers is relieved by using stretcher straps.
The “eights” are folded out of two belts and adjusted to the height of the porters (the length of the loop should correspond to the span of the arms extended to the sides). Then the upper loops are put on the shoulders of the rescuers so that the cross is on their backs. The lower loops hanging on the sides are at the level of the hands of the lowered hands, and the handles of the stretcher are inserted into them.