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Emergency Stretchers

Categories: Xii Accidents

Loss of blood is too weakening to permit of the patient walking, and the

exertion may start the wound bleeding again, so a stretcher of some kind

must be contrived in which she may be carried. You can make a good

emergency stretcher of two strong poles of _green_ wood, one large

blanket, and the ever-useful horse-blanket safety-pins. The poles should

be about six feet long, of a size to clasp easily in your hand, and as

smooth as they can be made with hurried work. They should, at least, be

free from jagged stumps or branches and twigs.



Begin by folding the blanket through the middle _over_ one of the poles,

then pin the blanket together with the large safety-pins, with the pins

about six inches apart, to hold the pole in place. That finishes one

side; for the other, lap the two edges of the blanket over the second

pole and pin them down like a hem. The stretcher will be of double

thickness and will hold the injured person comfortably.



If a serious accident should occur some distance from camp and there are

no blankets to use, do not hesitate to appropriate for a stretcher

whatever you have with you. When there is nothing else cut your khaki

skirt into strips about twelve inches wide and tie the ends to two poles

(the poles need not be smooth except at the ends), leaving spaces

between.



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