*** Truck Evacuation over Rough Roads *** Subject: Truck evacuation over rough roads Date: Sun, 8 Dec 1996 08:33:48 -0500 From: tsmith@amauta.rcp.net.pe (Tom) To: sar-l-d@islandnet.com Hi, Some time ago Keith Conover of the Wilderness Emerergency Medical Institute recommended to us to use innertubes on the back of a pick-up as an improvised means to evacuate a patient over rough roads here in the Andes. In a follow-up note, I stated we implemented his idea, it works and expressed our sincere appreciation. It is still being used as a means to help local and isolated communities handle emergency evacuations out of an area where air evacuation is rare to say the least. Weather, altitude (12,000 feet plus) rough terrain, lack of aircraft and tricky mountain winds all have a say. Anyway, we are now exploring the possibility of immobilization air mattresses. Does anyone have experience with these in remote areas and over rough roads. Would a combination of this system on top of the innertubes in the back of a pick-up be what we are looking for? I understand they are about $300. If so they would be a great investment for such situations. Basically the question is what to do when truck evacuation is the last and only resort? What are the pros and cons? Thanks for any help on this critical subject for such areas. Tom Smith Tom, The vacuum splint matresses are excellent. I don't know if they are what you are referring to, but I think so. They are reasonably tough, very lightweight, and effective in providing immobilization. They require a little bit of training to use properly, but overall they are good products. They are also less effected by changes in altitude than are inflated devices like air splints. Just my opinion. ***Robert McCool*** --- Robert H. McCool, MS, EMT E-mail: rmccool@pop.uky.edu Univ. of Kentucky Medical Center --------------------------- KY Injury Prevention & Research Center Training Officer 333 Waller Avenue, Suite 202 Madison County Rescue Squad Lexington, Kentucky 40504-2915 P.O. Box 249 (606) 257-6741 Fax: (606) 257-3909 Richmond, Kentucky 40476 Subject: Truck evac over rough roads Date: 9 Dec 1996 10:42:25 -0700 From: "Tom Moyer" To: sar-l-d@islandnet.com Truck evac over rough roads 12/9/96 Anyway, we are now exploring the possibility of immobilization air mattresses. Does anyone have experience with these in remote areas and over rough roads. Would a combination of this system on top of the innertubes in the back of a pick-up be what >>we are looking for? Tom Smith Tom, The vacuum splint matresses are excellent. I don't know if they are what you are referring to, but I think so. They are reasonably tough, very lightweight, and effective in providing immobilization. They require a little bit of training to use properly, but overall they are good products. They are also less effected by changes in altitude than are inflated devices like air splints. >Just my opinion. >***Robert McCool*** I'll add a seconding opinion on that. A full body vacuum splint is excellent both for a truck evac and for any mountain evac, since all of them involve some unavoidable amount of rough handling. In its normal configuration, the splint/mattress is soft, like a bean bag. When you evacuate the air with a hand pump, it becomes rigid in whatever shape it has been formed to. Used inside a rescue litter, it can be formed around the patient's body to provide complete immobilization. This is much more stable and more comfortable for the victim than a backboard or a padded litter. We get ours from MDI at 800-323-9035, but there are several manufacturers with similar products. They sell for about $350 with a carrying pack and the hand pump. Tom Moyer Salt Lake County Search and Rescue -------------------------------