First aid equipment for use in cold climate environment: stretcher

Abstract

"There is a need for a stretcher, which can also function as a sledge, especially for rescue missions in arctic climate, as the extraction point may only be accessible by people by foot or on skies. Existing solutions have some flaws, and some are not specifically designed for arctic conditions. The task is to develop a multi-purpose stretcher, operable by two members of the rescue team.

In solving the problem, typical engineering design methods and knowledge acquired throughout the master study is utilized, including design methodologies, CAD-modelling, material and process selection, and finite element analysis.

The solution is a modular and robust stretcher, which can be used as a sledge. It satisfies requirements set by the task description, user and the governing standard for first aid equipment.

The results are promising given the approximations and simplifications applied."