*** Improvised Ski Rescue Sled ***

From: mfb@fyslab.hut.fi (Markus Bjorksten)
Newsgroups: rec.skiing.backcountry,rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: Emergency sled design
Date: 11 Dec 95 12:44:05 GMT
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Finland

Based on Finnish references [1,2,3], but errors are possible below.

Evacuating a patient by ski-sled or ahkio (pulka) is heavy and slow
especially in soft snow or difficult terrain, and the route should be
chosen carefully. Nevertheless, in proper conditions evacuation is a lot
easier than in summer.

The need of evacuation should be weighted against the possible further
truama caused by the evacuation (moving, shaking, hypothermia, accidents).

An ahkio track (triple track, a track with three individual skis) should
be skiied for an evacuation sled or ahkio if possible. Good ski grip is
important. Several persons can pull the sled (attach rope to pack waistbelt),
one person can be behind to break if necessary and to help in difficult spots
by hand. As always, training is useful.

SKI-SLED   Minimum material: Wooden rods, rope/cord, knife, one pair of skis.
   All tieing should be done carefully, and the wood should be shaped
   where necessary by knife for this.

1. Remove binding cables. Attach the skis behind the bindings using either
    a) a thick strong piece of wood, 40..50cm long, tied to the  bindings or
    b) pieces of wood tied into the bindings to lift the 40..50cm long
       rod (thinner than in a) tied to the bindings and connecting the skis.
      The upper surface of the rod attaching the skis should be almost
      at level with the ski tips (therefore the pieces of wood in the
      bindings in b. The ropes do not go around the skis, ie not on the
      underside, there they would cause friction.

   2. Attach the skis at the frontal tips on the 'upper side' by a
      40..50cm long strong piece of wood, thinner than the one used at
      the bindings. This is the most difficult part. The piece should
      be shaped by knife to accomodate the ski tips. Holes in the ski
      tips help a lot in tieing, and should be preferably be made in
      advance. Some skis come with the 4..5mm diameter holes made by
      the manufacturer.

   3. Build a platform onto the rods of the previous points.
      a) Use 5 rods at least as long as the skis, and tie them to
         the rods of points 1 and 2.
      b) As a), but only 2 rods. Ropes or jackets etc are used to build a
         'stretcher' in between.
      c) Use an additonal pair of skis, and tie them to the rods of points
         1 and 2, bottoms up, and tips to the rear.
      - Attach the long rods of the platform in the rear end to each
        other but not to the skis with a rod orthogonal to them.
      - The center of mass of the system with patient on should be
        behind the bindings (easier going), so the platform must be
        long enough.

   4. Attach the towing rope:
      Two ropes, each attached to the bindings, crossing each other,
      attached to the rod connecting the ski tips. Another rope for
      breaking can be attached similarily, but goes in the opposite
      direction. A pair of ski poles combined at the baskets to a
      longer pole can be used for pulling.

   5. Pad the platform using sleeping pad, boughs etc. Tie and pad
      the pack of the victim to the rear of the platform, so that
      the head and back of the patient will rest elevated on it.

   6. Tie the patient in his sleeping bag with feet forward onto the
      platform. This will compress the bag, and thus reduce insulation.
      Protect the bag from moisture from both the outside and inside
      as possible.

   4-ski sled: Four parallel skis tied together as above. Platform
      bottom is not needed, and the padding is done directly onto the
      four skis.

AHKIO (pulka): A group ahkio is long enough for accomodating the
   patient and is thus well suited for evacuation, but an individual
   ahkio needs to be extended. This is easy, if it has an open stern
   (no brim at stern), but can also be done when this is not the case.
   The skis of the patient can be used for extension. Purpose built
   evacuation ahkios exist and are used by SAR authorities and the military.

[1] K. Vainio et al. 'Miten selvian luonnossa', WSOY, 1983.
[2] O. Aulio, 'Suuri retkeilykirja', Gummerus 1990.
[3] N. Corander, 'Vildmarksteknik', 1994(?).

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