When rendering assistance to personnel in the water a SAR helicopter utilizes a rescue sling for most extractions. In which case would the use of a litter be preferred?
• Rescue sling vs. litter – which one requires the person in the water to help and tolerate being upright? • Effects of cold water / hypothermia on circulation and the heart during a vertical hoist • When aviation SAR procedures call for a horizontal lift instead of a vertical one
• Think about which condition makes it most dangerous to lift a person in an upright, vertical position where blood shifts suddenly in the body. • Which of these people is least able to safely cooperate with the use of a sling and tolerate stress on the spine and circulation? • Ask yourself in which situation SAR guidance is most concerned with preventing collapse or cardiac problems during hoist.
• Identify which option is associated with a high risk of circulatory instability or cardiac arrest if hoisted vertically. • Recall that the litter allows a more horizontal, supported position; the sling is a vertical, more physically demanding lift. • Check which condition is specifically called out in SAR/aviation medical guidance as needing a litter (stokes) hoist when possible.
No comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts!