within a Stokes (basket) stretcher and will float a250-pound person.IMPROVISED STRETCHERS.—Standardstretchers should be used whenever possible totransport a seriously injured person. If none areavailable, it may be necessary for you to improvise.Shutters, doors, boards, and even ladders may be usedas stretchers. All stretchers of this kind must be verywell padded and great care must be taken to see that thecasualty is fastened securely in place.Sometimes a blanket may be used as a stretcher, asshown in figure 3–30. The casualty is placed in themiddle of the blanket in the supine position. Three orfour people kneel on each side and roll the edges of theblanket toward the casualty, as shown in figure 3–30A.When the rolled edges are tight and large enough tograsp securely, the casualty should be lifted and carriedas shown in figure 3–30B.Stretchers may also be improvised by using twolong poles (about 7 feet long) and strong cloth (such asa rug, a blanket, a sheet, a mattress cover, two or threegunny sacks, or two coats). Figure 3–31 shows animprovised stretcher made from two poles and ablanket.CAUTION: Many improvised stretchers do notgive sufficient support in cases where there arefractures or extensive wounds of the body. Theyshould be used only when the casualty is able to standsome sagging, bending, or twisting without seriousconsequences. An example of this type of improvisedstretcher would be one made of 40 to 50 feet of rope or1-1/2-inch firehose (fig. 3–32).SpineboardsSpineboards are essential equipment in theimmobilization of suspected or real fractures of thespinal column. Made of fiberglass or exteriorplywood, they come in two sizes, short (18" × 32") andlong (18" × 72"), and are provided with handholds andstraps. Spineboards also have a runner on the bottomto allow clearance to lift (fig. 3–33).A short spineboard is primarily used in extricationof sitting victims, especially in automobile wrecks(where it would be difficult to maneuver the victim outof position without doing additional damage to thespine). The long board makes a firm litter, protectingthe back and neck, and providing a good surface for3-19HMf0329Figure 3–29.—Miller (full body) Board.Figure 3–30.—Blanket used as an improvised stretcher.
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