Emergencies can happen anywhere, including over water bodies.
Emergency personnel must always be ready with the right equipment to rescue the victims in time. Part of the equipment should be a stretcher that can handle water rescues.
Let’s discuss a few types of stretchers suitable for water rescues.
Water rescues require a buoyant stretcher to float with the patient as you await a helicopter or rescue boat.
The stretcher type that meets this criterion is the basket stretcher. Attach floating devices to the stretcher to keep it afloat with the patient.
The second type is the floating stretcher, also known as the inflatable stretcher.
Let’s discuss the finer details on how to use these stretchers.
1 – The Basket Stretcher
The basket stretcher is versatile. Thus, you can carry, drag, roll, or even float it on lakes and oceans during rescue operations. Although it can float, fasten a floatation device to help it support the patient’s weight.
Floatation devices are beneficial during water rescues involving rough weather conditions.
Types Of Basket Stretchers
There are two primary types of basket stretchers. The first type is the older design, shown below. It has a robust tubular frame that surrounds a light gauge wire mesh.
Alt: rescue stretcher and equipment suspended from a spar alongside a ship
The patient lies on the wire mesh, and the rescuers handle the stretcher using the handles attached to the tubular structure.
The second type is the modern basket stretcher which you’ve probably spotted search and rescue personnel using. This type has a tubular aluminum frame that is attached to an aluminum, fiberglass, or plastic basket.
The image below shows a rescuer moving a patient to the shore after a water rescue:
Alt: rescuer moving a patient to the shore after a water rescue
Aluminum is the most preferred material for basket stretcher because it’s:
- Lightweight
- Strong.
The stretcher’s tubular shape further reduces its weight and increases portability.
Modern basket stretchers can support spinal boards and scoop stretchers, enabling you to rescue patients with spinal, limb, and neck injuries.
How To Use A Basket Stretcher For Water Rescue
Water rescues are more challenging than land ones because they often occur during bad weather. You may face low visibility due to rough waves that may have capsized the victim’s boat.
But you can successfully carry out a water rescue by proper preparation and prioritizing safety.
Below are the steps to follow during water rescue:
Step 1: Preparation. Preparation is of critical importance in any rescue mission. Adequate preparation will help you complete the process seamlessly. It will also help you to anticipate problems and develop solutions beforehand.
Preparation means many things, including:
- Wearing a life jacket. Carry an extra life jacket for the patient since they may not have one.
- Preparing the basket stretcher by installing a floatation device. Most floatation devices are inflatable to facilitate easy storage. Inflate the floating device and install it around the basket stretcher using a Velcro fastener.
- Analyze the environment. Once you spot the victim, analyze the surroundings to develop the appropriate rescue plan. Analyzing the physical environment will also inform you whether you need extra gear for the rescue.
- Ensuring you have the right number of rescue personnel. You should be at least two for a simple rescue. But if the patient is injured, you’ll need more personnel to help the patient onto your basket stretcher and to safety.
Step 2: Get into the water and swim toward the patient. Drag the floating basket stretcher with you as you move toward the patient.
Step 3: Reach out to the victim. In most cases, you’ll find the victim floating using their life jacket or on a piece of wood. Reach the patient using your leg, arm, or stick and pull them toward you. If you don’t have anything to pull the victim, move the basket stretcher as close as possible to them.
Step 4: Help the victim to get onto the stretcher. Talk to the patient and ask whether they can get onto the stretcher independently. If they’re injured, assist them. You’ll need at least two other people for this task.
One person will hold the basket stretcher in position while the other two help the patient get onto the stretcher. Once the victim is on board, fasten them onto the stretcher using its straps.
Step 5: Move them to safety. You can now move the patient to your rescue boat. Alternatively, you can hoist them to a rescue helicopter as shown below:
Alt: rescue stretcher hoist to a rescue helicopter
Note: Communication is critical during a water rescue. Talk to the victim about the entire process so you can establish how they can participate.
2 – The Inflatable Stretcher
An inflatable stretcher is suitable for water rescues because it’s easy to deploy and floats on its own once inflated. It also has handles on the side to help carry the patient once on land.
Inflatable stretchers come with a cylinder or hand pump. You can use it to inflate the stretcher within minutes. The stretcher is lightweight but can accommodate a person weighing up to 150 kilograms.
What Makes An Inflatable Stretcher Suitable For Water Rescue?
The floatable stretcher has the following features that make it suitable for water rescue:
- It’s compact. The floating stretcher is compact when deflated, enabling you to carry it to the accident site easily.
- It’s easy to deploy. The cylinder pipe inflates in less than five minutes, making it super easy to deploy.
- It’s lightweight. Its light weight allows you to carry the patient with ease once you’re on land. It also makes it convenient to deploy the stretcher from your water boat. You can tie it to your boat and drag your patient toward the shore for further medical assistance.
How To Deploy The Inflatable Stretcher
Deploying the inflatable stretcher takes only a few minutes and comprises the following steps:
Step 1: Select the deployment site. Once you’re at the scene, look for a site without debris.
Step 2: Unpack and inflate the stretcher. Once you remove the stretcher from its packaging, unroll it and fix the pump. Pump the stretcher until it is firm enough. Ensure you replace its cap to prevent dirt and water from entering the valve.
Step 3: Help the patient get onto the stretcher and use its straps to secure them.
Step 4: Pull the stretcher towards the rescue boat and hoist it on board. The patient can lie on the stretcher until you get to a hospital.
Conclusion
Performing a water rescue is a complicated process that requires the right equipment. A basket or inflatable stretcher is part of the equipment you can use for such rescues. Fit a floating device on the basket stretcher. Meanwhile, a floating stretcher can float on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a basket stretcher float?
Yes. A basket stretcher is made from hollow aluminum tubes and plastic, which makes it float. But you need to install flotation devices so they can support the patient’s weight.
What makes water rescues risky?
Bad weather makes water rescue a risky venture. Carrying out water rescues during storms is risky because of the danger of drowning. The bad weather can also damage the rescue boat and endanger lives.
Is the inflatable stretcher used only for emergencies on water?
No. The inflatable stretcher is versatile and can be used for water and land rescues.
