First aid for ships (1974) Pt. 2 of 3

if it is certain that a stretcher is not needed to transport a casualty or if it is not possible to bring a stretcher near enough to him he can be carried by hand when there are two people present they can make a three-handed seat by taking each other's wrists one of them leaves an arm free to provide a support for the casualties back the casualty is first put flat on his back then placed in a sitting position by one of the attendants standing behind him who will take firm hold of the casualty's forearm the other attendant bends the casualty's legs and brings him to a standing position the two attendants then make a three-handed seat which they slip as far forward as possible under the casualty's thighs and lift him up the attendance can also make a two-handed seat to carry the casualty and at the same time support his injured lower limb when there is only one person present he can carry the casualty by fireman's lift put the casualty face down stand at his head and place your hands under his armpits lift him to his knees slide your hands down to his waist and raise him to his feet on your left side supporting him take hold of his left wrist with your right hand stoop and draw his left arm over your head pass your left arm round his thigh straighten yourself lifting the casualty and change your grip in this way your left hand holds the casualty's left forearm your right hand is free to hold on to a handrail ladder if the casualty is in a confined area difficult to get at the need for an emergency removal justifies bringing him out by dragging him along the ground crawl up to the casualty preferably backwards kneel arride him and place him on his back tie his wrists together with your handkerchief or any other piece of cloth available pass his arms tied together over your head and crawl slowly out dragging the casualty along with you attached to your neck a stretcher is used as much as possible in transporting a casualty if a Neil Robert stretcher is available especially on board ship its use is recommended here is the usual kind of stretcher being used at least two attendants are needed for a stretcher when the casualty has been placed on his back they tie his legs and ankles together putting protective pads between his ankles and his knees one person places himself at the head of the casualty and directs the operations the other places himself astray the casualty's legs prepare to lift lift Advance it is essential that the movements should be well synchronized and not hurried prepare to lower lower the attendants wrap the casualty up in the blanket arranged on the stretcher fasten the straps and take him away carry him head first so as to able to keep a better watch over him prepare to lift lift Advance the attendants should not walk in step if injury to the spinal column is suspected four bearers will be needed to transport the casualty and special measures will need to be taken one blanket is folded on the stretcher in such a way as to provide a cushion under the C his back a second blanket is half folded lengthwise into a roll the roll is brought alongside the casualty the four attendants together carefully turn the casualty on his side in a single movement and draw the roll of blanket against him they then turn him again on his back on the blanket with the same movement the other half of the blanket is in turn folded into a roll the two rolls in this way forming a cradle splint the four attendants take a firm grip on the splint one at the casualties feet one at each side and one at his head the attendant at his head directs the operations prepare to lift lift Advance prepare to lower lower the rolls of blanket are undone and the casualty is covered with them the straps are fastened the stretcher bearers walk out of Step so as to avoid swinging the casualty needlessly for