Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
fails, the result is not a catastrophic fall. Although many rescue groups use a single rescuer
to guide the litter, it is easier to use two rescuers in all but vertical or overhanging terrain.
Ideally, these litter bearers should wear their own packs. If rockfall or other falling objects
threaten, the litter bearers can attempt to lean over the occupant for protection, while their
packs protect their backs.
The spiders can also be improvised. One easy method is to use a double bowline on a
bight, with the end loop of the rope as long as the other two loops, forming a knot with
three loops that can be attached to two sides and an end of the litter. A single 15-meter
length of climbing rope would suffice to make two spiders with six points of suspension.
This would be tied into a long loop with the spiders suspended from the lowering rope at
the top and a shorter connection along the long axis of the litter between the two spiders,
which could be formed into an occupant tie-in. Additional methods of improvising a litter
suspensionaresuggested intheveryusefulchapter onimprovisation inthebook Mountain
Search and Rescue Techniques by William G. May.
Witharucksackstretcher,theloopsshouldbelongerandruncompletelyundertheruck-
sacks so the rucksacks are supported by the rope rather than by the straps of the rucksacks.
In less-than-vertical terrain, the potential for abrading the rope supporting the side of the
litter that faces the cliff is always a problem. Tape can be used to protect the rope in areas
likely to rub.
Intermediate Terrain
On steep terrain, the litter is usually oriented vertically (parallel to the slope angle),
rather than horizontally as on vertical terrain, and is lowered on a rope. On very steep ter-
rain, two litter bearers positioned on either side of the litter are sufficient because much of
the weight of the litter is taken by the rope. As the terrain becomes less steep, it becomes
very difficult for two litter bearers to carry the litter, since less weight can be borne by the
rope, and four litter bearers are better than two. A rucksack stretcher can be used for such
terrain butrequires some ingenuity forcreating anappropriate tie-in system. Asinall tech-
nical rescue systems, the occupant must wear aclimbing harness andbesecured directly to
the lowering rope in case of litter failure.
On snow slopes, a person often can be lowered in a sleeping bag (with a sleeping pad
underneath) in a bivouac sack. This is a better technique for ill than for injured individu-
als. On steeper slopes, the bivouac sack usually slides nicely and can be lowered from a
fixed anchor. The occupant wears a climbing harness and is tied into the lowering line. On
gentler slopes, the bivouac sack can slide with assistance from rescuers, usually with a res-
cuer using a rope from above to belay the occupant in case the bivouac sack gets out of
control. This rescuer may move with the litter on very gentle slopes and safeguard the in-
dividualwithashortlinetiedtotherescuer'sharness.However,thisprocedureissafeonly
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