Mounted search and rescue

["IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN" <ilichten1@verizon.net>]

There are several possible ways to transport with horsepower.  In all cases
you start with a packaged patient on a back board/CID and in a Stokes
litter.

First method-- put the litter in the back of a wagon and drive carefully.
If you can, puts lots of padding (air mattresses or foam ground pads might
work) between the litter and the wagon bed or suspend it by the four corners
To help with road bumps and make it easier for the attendants to work.
Patient should be head to front like in an ambulance. 

Second method-- put the litter on a pack frame. Either on the centerline or
either side with weight balanced on the horse. Remember you now need an
extra 3-4 feet of trail width as you walk out. Patient is usually head to
rear in this operation. The pack animal is led out at a walk, often on foot
rather than ponyed.

Third method is use a travois, really hard on patient. Two poles are
fastened to horse via a collar or the saddle horn if it is a real horn.
These extend far to rear of animal where a cross bar is placed. The
resulting triangle is filled with canvas or similar on a rope web from pole
to pole.  A variation is to use the stirrups as supports with a breast
collar to hold the contraption forward, sort of like wagon shafts.
The patient is placed on the canvas, head up but far enough from the horse's
rear. The horse can be led out or ridden out but the patient is going to
feel every bump as the poles drag on the ground.

The first method is still in use. The second was probably discontinued by
the military in most places by 1900 and may have been revived in the CBI
during WWII.  The third method went out when the Indian Wars ended.
Ambulance wagons were always preferred over other methods, even using supply
wagons or artillery caissons over horseback. 

In today's environment a good search plan includes two contingencies: The
logistics section is responsible for medical care for searchers and should
have a plan to provide care in the field.  The medical section plans for the
extrication and retrieval of the search subject.  This requires the
establishment of a task team for this purpose with the necessary equipment. 
Even a break a part Stokes is a pain to carry in and there may be a limited
supply of patient care equipment and personnel making it more practical to
have them at base or a staging area until the subject is found.   

Irv Lichtenstein 



-----Original Message-----
From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Una Smith
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 12:20 PM
To: Mounted search and rescue
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Transport via horse