A litter is a stretcher or basket designed to be used where there are obstacles to movement or other hazards: for example, in confined spaces, on slopes, in wooded terrain. 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, so as to immobilize the person and prevent further injury.
A Stokes basket as used by a fire department, with a vacuum bag to restrain the person in the litter
World War I stretcher in use
A litter essentially is a stretcher with sides (or just a raised edge) and a removable head/torso cover. They are most notably remembered from Korea and Vietnam images of United States Air Force Pararescue airmen or more recent Coast Guard video clips of helicopters rescuing injured people from isolated areas. Some will also recall the images from the TV shows Emergency! and M*A*S*H of fixed stretchers on either side of medical evacuation helicopters.
One widely used style of litter is the Stokes basket.
After the person is secured in the litter, the litter may be wheeled, carried by hand, mounted on an ATV, towed behind skis, snowmobile, or horse, lifted or lowered on high angle ropes, or hoisted by helicopter.
Litters are used to rescue victims in confined spaces, such as inside a ship or a cave network. Litters used in surface water rescue are equipped with floats. Litters used in mountain rescue usually are equipped with a cover or other material to protect the person from falling rocks. Litters used in search and rescue often can be disassembled for easier carrying. Some litters can be mounted on a wheel.
A Stokes basket, also called a Stokes stretcher or Stokes litter, is a metal wire or plastic litter widely used in search and rescue.[1] Its key feature is that it can be disassembled for transport in backpacks or by pack horse.[citation needed]
Originally designed by Charles F. Stokes,[2][3][4] these baskets have been notorious for spinning under the downdraft from the rotating helicopter blades.[citation needed] Design improvements have included using multiple attachment points, separate hold-down cables, and powered extension hoists to help save more lives. Recently the U.S. Navy has used the Stokes basket to transport patients through narrow corridors and doorways.[citation needed]
History
During the United States Civil War, horse-mounted litters were used to transport wounded soldiers from battlefields. Rear Admiral Charles Francis Stokes, retired Surgeon General of the Navy from 1910 to 1924, devised the Stokes stretcher.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Litters (rescue).
By Michael Dunn
Stokes litter images
Charles Francis Stokes, ArlingtonCemetery.net, an unofficial website
January 07, 2023
litter, rescue, basket, other, uses, litter, disambiguation, litter, stretcher, basket, designed, used, where, there, obstacles, movement, other, hazards, example, confined, spaces, slopes, wooded, terrain, typically, shaped, accommodate, adult, face, position. For other uses see Litter disambiguation A litter is a stretcher or basket designed to be used where there are obstacles to movement or other hazards for example in confined spaces on slopes in wooded terrain 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 so as to immobilize the person and prevent further injury A Stokes basket as used by a fire department with a vacuum bag to restrain the person in the litter World War I stretcher in use A litter essentially is a stretcher with sides or just a raised edge and a removable head torso cover They are most notably remembered from Korea and Vietnam images of United States Air Force Pararescue airmen or more recent Coast Guard video clips of helicopters rescuing injured people from isolated areas Some will also recall the images from the TV shows Emergency and M A S H of fixed stretchers on either side of medical evacuation helicopters One widely used style of litter is the Stokes basket Contents 1 Uses 2 Stokes basket 3 History 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksUses EditAfter the person is secured in the litter the litter may be wheeled carried by hand mounted on an ATV towed behind skis snowmobile or horse lifted or lowered on high angle ropes or hoisted by helicopter Litters are used to rescue victims in confined spaces such as inside a ship or a cave network Litters used in surface water rescue are equipped with floats Litters used in mountain rescue usually are equipped with a cover or other material to protect the person from falling rocks Litters used in search and rescue often can be disassembled for easier carrying Some litters can be mounted on a wheel Stokes basket Edit A litter basket at the United States Georgian drills in 2011 A Stokes basket also called a Stokes stretcher or Stokes litter is a metal wire or plastic litter widely used in search and rescue 1 Its key feature is that it can be disassembled for transport in backpacks or by pack horse citation needed Originally designed by Charles F Stokes 2 3 4 these baskets have been notorious for spinning under the downdraft from the rotating helicopter blades citation needed Design improvements have included using multiple attachment points separate hold down cables and powered extension hoists to help save more lives Recently the U S Navy has used the Stokes basket to transport patients through narrow corridors and doorways citation needed History EditDuring the United States Civil War horse mounted litters were used to transport wounded soldiers from battlefields Rear Admiral Charles Francis Stokes retired Surgeon General of the Navy from 1910 to 1924 devised the Stokes stretcher Gallery Edit Litter on wheels made circa 1900 Firefighters lowering a Stokes basket down a hill Patient transport sled managed by skiers A mountain rescue litterSee also EditBattlefield medicineReferences Edit Dictionary definition of Stokes basket A Way With Words new home of Double Tongued Dictionary Retrieved 2017 01 29 Mr Grog RADM Charles F Stokes Surgeon General 1910 1914 USSTranquility blogspot Retrieved 30 May 2013 Charles F Stokes MD FACS 1863 1931 Highlight of the Month American College of Surgeons Chicago IL Retrieved 30 May 2013 Stokes Stretcher Patent External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Litters rescue Emergency Response Training Inc Successful Patient Packaging By Michael Dunn Stokes litter images Charles Francis Stokes ArlingtonCemetery net an unofficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Litter rescue basket amp oldid 1118848535, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
