Safety & Health 30 The Mainline Patient-Carrying Devices Litter The term “litter” is also in the Division 7 rule for medical services and first aid. A litter is a stretcher designed to be used where there are physical obstacles that impair movement, including other hazards such as, in confined spaces, on slopes or uneven terrain, or in densely forested areas. Typically it is shaped to accommodate an adult in a face-up position and it is used in search and rescue operations. The person is strapped into the basket, making safe evacuation possible. The person generally is further protected by a cervical collar and sometimes a long spine board, to immobilize the person and prevent further injury. A litter essentially is a stretcher with sides (or just a raised edge). If interested in purchasing a litter, AOL Associate Member Faktion Rescue has them available at member discount prices. Stretcher Webster’s Dictionary: a device for carrying a sick, injured, or dead person. Since there was no OR-OSHA definition and the Webster’s Dictionary definition was a bit too brief, I looked to Wikipedia to see if it could provide any more clarification. ;Wikipedia: A stretcher, gurney, litter, or pram is an apparatus used for moving patients who require medical care. A basic type (cot or litter) must be carried by two or more people. Soft Stretchers Soft stretchers can be a vital part of any emergency tool kit for extracting patients from confined or difficult locales that are inaccessible to a standard backboard. Soft stretchers are typically made of a rugged material with multiple handles for easy access by multiple rescuers. These flexible stretchers are also space savers in any vehicle, able to be folded or rolled for compact, convenient access. If interested in purchasing one, places like QuadMed offer soft stretchers from many brands. Are Soft Stretchers Right For You? Soft stretchers have been used in rescue operations within the forestry sector for many years, particularly in wildland firefighting. Although wildland fire operations differ from logging operations, they have demonstrated that soft stretchers can be an effective rescue tool in forest environments, when used by properly trained personnel with great teamwork. One of the challenges that logging operations may face when adopting this tool is the availability of personnel to assist with rescue efforts. In wildland firefighting, hand crews typically consist of 20 people, which is one of the reasons why soft stretchers have been successful. Forest rescue operations are often arduous and require hard work due to the long distances, remote areas, steep slopes, and obstacles on the ground that must be navigated during a rescue. Regardless of which tool you choose for your operation, it is highly recommended that all workers receive proper training on the tool they will use, including practice rescue operations in the forest. t Continued →
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