Patient Packaging and Litter Transport

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Patient Packaging and Litter Transport

• CMRU - November 15, 2006
• Todd Shechter/Chris Davis

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Points to cover

• Review of CMRU equipment
• Patient Packaging
• Litter transport
• HEATPAC Personal Heater

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Review of CMRU Equipment

• Folding litter
• Sleeping bag
• Bivy sack
• blankets
• Pad
• (subjects clothes/pack/sack/pad)
• (our clothes/pack/sack/pad)

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Patient Packaging

• Litter is main tool - developed in 1895 by
  Charles Stokes
• Remain secure in the litter, any of five
  positions
• horizontal
• on their side
• feet down
• head down
• face down
• Normal position horizontal or feet down
• Start with splinting/wound management
• Padding beneath patient, litter pads are not
  enough

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Patient Packaging - 2

• Tarp, blanket, or bivy in litter -- our litter is
  not their last transport mechanism
• Ask if need to pee/poop before loading
• Padding, padding, padding
• Under knees, between legs, along sides, around
  head
• Not under neck
• Never leave subject unattended, always have plan
  if need to tip subject
• Strap subject in tight, dont depend on seat belts

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Patient Packaging - 3

• On-going care pedal pulse/vitals
• Ask subject if they feel numbness/tingling/hot
  spots (indicates straps too tight or loose)

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Litter transport

• Rescuer on head is in charge.
• Before lift, ask is anyone not ready?
• Feet first, rescuer on head can see forward
• People to clear trail/rotate out
• Straps to adjust height
• Snow travel webbing/ropes to help pull

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HEATPAC Personal Heater

• Used for warming hypothermic subjects
• Works by warming air and circulating through
  tubes
• Charcoal fuel element, D-cell battery, match to
  start
• Start with vent open, close after 10 min
• 20 minutes to reach operating temp
• Lasts 8-12 hours
• Exhaust to open air if possible
• Do not use in confined spaces (in vehicle)