This document discusses stretchers and how to safely move injured patients. It describes how to improvise a stretcher using poles, blankets, coats or other materials. Proper techniques for loading and unloading a patient onto a stretcher safely are also outlined, requiring at least three bearers who lift the patient in unison and position them onto the stretcher. Utmost caution is stressed to prevent further injury when transporting patients.

1. WHAT ARE
STRETCHERS?

2. STRETCHERS
• When a patient has to be moved for some distance, a stretcher should be
used. A stretcher may be improvised out of light doors, a ladder or a gate. It
should be padded with blankets, grasses or straw.
• You can also use two poles, a few feet longer than the patient, and a
blanket, robe, sheltre-half, ground cloth or a strong sheet. Or, make holes
in the bottom corners of two sacks and pass the poles through these. Two or
three Scout shirts, sweaters or coats, turned inside out and buttoned up
(push the pole through the sleeves) can also be used.

3. STRETCHERS
• If you cannot find poles, a stretcher can be made out of blankets. Lay the
patient in the center of the blanket and roll the edges towards him. This
requires at least two, and preferably three, bearers on each side.
• Whatever kind of stretcher you use, be sure it is tried out first whatever it
is strong to bear the weight of the patient. A collapsing stretcher may cause
further injury to the patient.

4. STRETCHERS
• LOADING THE PATIENT ON A STRETCHER
• Utmost caution must be exercised in loading, carrying and unloading
an injured person from the stretcher. One person alone should give
the orders.
• In loading an injured person into a stretcher, three bearers are
necessary and a fourth is desirable. The following is Standard
Operating Procedure (SOP) in loading the patient into the stretcher:

5. STRETCHERS
• 1. Have three bearers take position at the side of the patient opposite any
injury that may present. A fourth man should assist on the side opposite the
middle bearer.
• 2. The bearers kneel on their left knee on the patients injured side. One man
takes position at the shoulder, one at the hips, and the third at the knees. The
bearer at the shoulder puts one arm under the patients head, neck and
shoulder and his other arm under the upper part of the patients back.
• 3. The bearer at the knees places one arm under the patients knees and his
other arm under the ankles.

6. STRETCHERS
• 4. The middle portion of the patients body is borne by the other bearer.
When everyone is ready, they all lift together, and for support, they use
their right bended knees to hold up the patient. The fourth bearer then
places the stretcher under the patient. Finally, the patient is gently
lowered to the stretcher with all bearers acting in unison.
• 5. The patient should be carried feet first. The only exception is when
carrying a patient up a hill, stairs or steep grades, when it is better to carry
him head first.
• 6. If unloading, the procedure is just the reverse of that described above.