Rigging the Sked Stretcher for Advanced Rescues Marcel Rodriguez, B.A., EMT/W-EMT, SRTA, Rope Rescue Technician

Warning: This presentation is designed to provide an awareness of various features of and techniques for the Sked rescue stretcher. It is not designed as a substitute for hands-on training. Individuals wishing to use these techniques should only do so after training from a qualified source and practice.

Who am I? • • • • • • •

Member Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue EMT/WEMT Swiftwater Rescue Technician Rope Rescue Technician AHA Basic Life Support/First Aid Instructor Trainer for Skedco, manufacturer of the Sked Originally trained as an Army Combat Medical Specialist • Currently work in Mergers and Acquisitions for SAP

Sked Basics • Manufactured since 1981 in Portland, Oregon • Approximately 500,000 Skeds sold to date • 6 Standard Models for various purposes Model

Width

Standard

36”/91.44 cm

PJ (military)

28”/71.12 cm

Tactical (military)

22.5”/ 57.15 cm

Ranger (patient drag)

22.5”/ 57.15 cm

HMD (mass casualty/nontechnical)

36”/ 91.44 cm

Bariatric (tech rescue up to 1000 lbs. / 454 kg.)

48”/121.92 cm

Sked Basics

Accessory/Modification

Tagline Kit – Used for helicopter hoists Oregon Spine Splint II – Vest-type spinal immobilization device for use with Sked

Flotation System – Rigid or Rapid Inflation Snow Runner Grommets – Used to create rope “rails” for “sledding” evacuations on snow

Sked Basics • Unrolling – To prepare the Sked for use, you need to learn the backroll. • To roll the Sked up after use, place the strap under the Sked BEFORE starting to roll. Keep one knee on the Sked while rolling until the strap is secured.

Standard Equipment • The standard Sked comes with the following equipment: – – – – – – – –

Sked Stretcher Backpack Retaining Strap Horizontal Lift Slings (2) Tow Strap Additional Handles (4) Vertical Lift Harness Locking Steel Carabiner

Cobra Buckles • Available as factory-installed or replacement • Quick-release, machined aluminum buckles • Rated to 18 KN (1,835 Kg)

Securing a patient against movement • The Sked straps are generally sufficient to keep a patient secure. • If your protocols require additional strapping, or if you are trying to keep pressure from wounded lower extremities, the following tiein methods can be used: – Pelvic Tie-In – Chest Tie-In

Pelvic Tie-In

Chest Tie-In

Chest Tie-In

Low-Angle Rigging • Generally the same as rigid-litter low-angle rigging. • The slick nature of the Sked allows more flexibility for 1- and 2-rescuer low-angle scenarios.

Low-Angle/Vertical Harness • 30 ft (9.14 M) of 3/8” (10 mm) static rope • MBS 5,265 lbs./2,388 Kg.

Low-Angle Rigging

Full vertical lift (Patient Upright) • Generally used in confined space-type vertical rescues. • Extreme caution must be taken when raising a patient from the ground in this position in order to not compromise the patient’s airway. • If raising from horizontal position, use the alternate rigging method.

Vertical Lift (Standard Rigging) • Most Effective for confined spaces • Patient can be placed with arms up for smaller profile • Requires “standing start” preferably with two assistants

Vertical Lift (Standard Rigging)

Full Vertical Lift (Standard Rigging)

Full Vertical Lift (Standard Rigging)

Vertical Lift (Alternate Rigging)

Full Vertical Lift (Alternate Rigging)

Horizontal Lift (Tended or Untended) • Rigging is the same as rigid litter high-angle horizontal rigging. • Lifting slings (breaking strength 9,000 lbs./4,082 kg.) standard with every Sked. • “Head” sling is slightly shorter to hold patient in slight head up position.

Horizontal Lift

Vertical to Horizontal • Combination of Vertical Lift Alternate Rigging and Lift Slings. • Vertical Lift Harness is attached to rigging plate • Hoist Slings are connected to rigging plate using a Skedco micro-hauler or other personal mechanical advantage system • To move from vertical to horizontal, the tender uses the MA system to pull the Sked horizontal

Vertical to Horizontal

The Sked harness is rigged as described for an alternate vertical lift. In addition, the horizontal lift slings are rigged. The vertical harness is attached to a rigging plate. The horizontal lift slings are attached to a “set-of-fours” or “Aztek Kit” and then to the rigging plate. The “setof-fours” should have enough slack in it that the Sked is hanging completely on the vertical harness.

Note: For illustration purposes only. This technique requires a tender and full 2-line rigging

To transition, the attendant tightens the “set-of-fours” until the full weight of the Sked is on the horizontal lift slings. The “set-of-fours” is then secured.

Vertical Evacuation over a 90 degree edge (“Pike and Pivot”) • Effective for tended or untended hard-edge evacuations (canyons, crevasses, etc.) • Most effective when used with the edge guard

Vertical Evacuation over a 90-degree edge Carabiners through shoulder grommets hold harness in place

Vertical Evacuation over a 90degree edge

Vertical Evacuation over a 90degree edge Edge Guard protects harness, main Line and hardware on edge

Note: For illustration purposes only. This technique requires full 2line rigging

Litter harness is clipped into 2 carabiners on either side of the patient

Just before reaching the edge, the attendant removes the harness from the carabiners, changing the pivot point of the Sked. A Small MA system or utility line should be attached to the head of the Sked to help guide the shift in weight. The attendant should step to the side away from the Sked.

As the Sked mantles the edge, an edge attendant provides gentle pressure on the utility line (green) to smooth the transition.

Special Situations – Flat Water – Moving Water – Tow Rigging – Underwater (Recovery) – Ice

Rapid Deployment Flotation Kit • Provides 64 lbs./29 kg. of buoyancy (More than 3x USCG requirement) • 15 lb. / 6.8 kg. ballast weight to aid in proper patient positioning and self-righting • Can be fit to standard Skeds with no modifications • Fully Deployed in 30-45 seconds (from storage bag to patient ready) • Does not interfere with rigging for vertical or horizontal lifts

Flotation Kit Includes: Rapid Deployment Bag (2) quick-inflate flotation logs Inflatable chest pad Ballast bag Harness/Handle Float (2) Extra-long Handles

To deploy: Unzip Bag Unroll Sked Tighten straps Inflate logs (via CO2 Cartridge) Orally inflate Chest Pad

Flat Water/Deep Water

Towing/Strainers • When Towing, use harness in alternate position to prevent diving. Tender can “ride” Sked to monitor patient. • Strainers/Obstacles in moving water should be approached with Sked between rescuer and obstacle. Sked should be pushed up and over obstacle.

Underwater Recovery • Sked can be used for underwater body recovery work • Rig Sked for appropriate lift (horizontal or vertical) • Move Sked to victim location with logs deflated and minimal air in chest pad • Victim is moved into Sked (with or without body bag) • Straps are secured • Logs inflated (a messenger line can be sent up on a float (safety sausage) prior to inflation for boat crew

Ice Rescue • Sked with inflated or rigid flotation logs can be used by a rescuer to access a victim on or through the ice • Sked surface allows quick movement on ice by prone rescuer • Sked vertical harness attached to rope allows assistance by shore-based crew

Deep Snow Travel Snow hood prevents snow build up at shoulders

Package for warmth and insulation from cold ground

Movement on Snow

Snow Runner Modification

Helitag Kit

Helitag Kit

Contents: Harness, 2 carabiners, 2 screw links, “weak link”, 250 feet of 7 mm floating line, stuff sack/throw bag with flotation disk

Questions?

My Sked: Standard Sked All Standard Accessories Edge Guard Modified for Snow Runners Snow Hood Full Flotation Kit (solid floats) Oregon Spine Splint II

References • • • • • • •

www.skedco.com Unrolling and Rolling a Sked Video Packaging a Patient Video Sked Stretcher Basic Instructions Flotation Sked Instructions Helicopter Tagline Instructions Oregon Spine Splint II Instructions

Snow Runner Modification Specs