The Neil Roberson stretcher has proven useful in various emergency and rescue scenarios. It allows for a safe and simple recovery of casualties from unconventional and difficult situations.
Neil John Robertson invented the stretcher to be used on ships. Today, you can use it to rescue someone from different rescue settings.
The Neil Robertson stretcher is specifically used to recover casualties from cramped spaces. It is an indispensable gurney in rescue spaces where traditional stretchers can’t fit. You could also use it for helicopter rescues.
The stretcher wraps around the casualty and provides strong support for safer vertical hoisting.
Let’s find out more.
1 – Rescues From Cramped Areas
Emergencies in water, boiler rooms, and maintenance holes are complicated because you can’t fit the traditional ambulance stretcher. These emergencies may require you to lower or raise the patient to safety, further complicating the rescue process.
You can only use traditional stretchers, such as ambulance stretchers, when the casualty is lying on their back. But the design of the Neil Roberson stretcher allows you to execute vertical and horizontal rescues.
The Design of the Neil Robertson Stretcher
The Neil Robertson stretcher has an exceptional spliced-slat design allowing you to maneuver, lift or lower your patient. Several components of its design make it suitable for this role, including:
- It’s lightweight. The stretcher weighs roughly eight to 10 kilograms, allowing easy portability to the rescue site.
- It’s made from canvas. Canvas makes it flexible, so you can fold it up during storage or wrap it around the patient during rescues.
- It has two “O” rings which you can use to lift the patient and guide them through the process.
- It has four handles you can use when carrying patients lying on their backs. The hands have a protective grip which helps you to avoid slipping accidents.
- It has long straps, allowing you to secure the casualty properly on the stretcher.
- It’s made from long-lasting materials to give you a longer service life.
- The stretcher can support a maximum casualty load of 136 kilograms.
Pre-Service Procedure
Before you can use the Neil Robertson stretcher, carry out pre-service checks.
Alt: navy crew carrying out pre-service checks
Some of the things to examine include:
- The rope for any symptoms of deterioration. Replace it if you notice that it’s compromised.
- The canvas. The canvas is robust, but it could get damaged from wear and tear, water damage, or even rotting. Don’t use the stretcher if you notice any of these signs.
- The head strap. This component is critical to patient safety because it helps secure their heads during the procedure.
- Buckles. Ensure the buckles are fastened the right way.
- Wooden slats. Ensure none of the wooden slats is broken.
Pre-service checks are critical because they ensure patient safety. If any competent fails during the mission, the patient could fall, resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.
Once you’re done with the checks, wrap the stretcher around the patient and begin the retraction process.
Securing the Casualty
Securing the patient so you can move them from the site is an easy procedure that takes a few steps.
Step 1: Inspect the surroundings. Once you arrive at the scene, first examine the casualty. Carry out first aid if necessary and establish whether they need any splints for broken bones. You’ll also need a neck brace to stabilize the patient’s neck region as you maneuver them from the site.
Step 2: Prepare the Neil Robertson Stretcher. The stretcher usually comes in a bag and is folded to occupy minimal space. Unpack the stretcher, lay it beside the patient and unfasten the guide ropes. Pay attention to the direction of the leg and foot sections.
Step 3: Place the casualty on the stretcher. The most common method is to support the casualty’s head, neck, midsection, and legs as you lift and place the patient on the stretcher. Hoverer, you could also use the rolling technique.
Step 4: Secure the patient using the stretcher’s straps. Always begin with the head strap and move downwards until you strap the patient’s legs. The stretcher will get wrapped around the patient as you tighten the straps. Once you are done, check the straps and ensure they’re all tight.
Alt: correctly strapped patient
Now the patient is ready to be moved to safety.
2 – Helicopter Rescues
Helicopter rescues are essential when rescuing a patient from a place without roads or need to transport the patient to a hospital as soon as possible. The Neil Robertson stretcher is suitable for helicopter rescues involving vertical rescues.
Preparing for a Helicopter Rescue
The preparation for this rescue type is similar to the procedure described above. The only difference is that you’ll use the “O” ring to lift your patient to safety.
Once you have wrapped the Neil Robertson stretcher, secure the guiding rope to the foot “O” ring.
Next, tie the hosting rope on the head “O” ring. Ensure the rope is at least 44 millimeters in circumference.
Also, inspect the rope before using it to ensure it can support the patient’s and stretcher’s weight as you lift them to the helicopter.
Lifting the Patient to the Helicopter
The Neil Robertson stretcher is useful in helicopter rescues where the patient is hoisted to an aircraft hovering above, as shown below:
Alt: patient hoisted on a Neil Robertson stretcher to an aircraft
This procedure requires coordination between the crew on board the helicopter and those on the ground. The helicopters for this rescue usually have a winch that pulls the housing hope upwards until the patient is near the doors. The helicopter crew then pulls the patient inside the helicopter and takes them to the hospital.
Conclusion
The Neil Robertson stretcher is best suited for unconventional and challenging rescues. You could use it to rescue a casualty from a cramped space where a traditional stretcher can’t fit. You could also use it for helicopter rescues, particularly those requiring you to hoist the casualty to the aircraft vertically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this stretcher called Neil Robertson?
The Neil Robertson Stretcher gets its name from its inventor, Neil Roberson. Robertson created the first model in the early 1900s using Japanese bamboo litter. He designed it to lift the patent vertically from the scene of injury.
Is the Neil Roberson stretcher safe?
Yes. The Neil Robertson stretcher is made from canvas, wooden slats, and metallic “O” rings that can safely support a patient’s weight. The stretcher wraps tightly around the patient to prevent a fall.
Is the Neil Robertson stretcher only for ships?
No. The Neal Robertson stretcher was originally invented for ships, but today, you can use it for multiple rescues. For instance, you can use it to rescue a patient from any enclosed site.
