The Emergency Stretcher Expanding Field Treatment
No one is certain when the first Emergency Stretcher was invented, but it’s surmised that they appeared long before the wheel due to archeological evidence indicating that sleds were in use and being towed along on the ground. It would be a simple step for one to be just picked one up one day, carried by two people, especially in cases where those who are injured or infirm are being transported, for whom movement had to be very careful so as to not aggravate existing discomfort. And domesticated animals like horses and cattle may have been available at the time, the prone positioning offered exclusively by a stretcher is clearly superior and preferable.
The emergency stretcher of today is a whole lot more comfortable and portable, and indeed some models are mobile to the extreme, even to the point of self-propulsion where a few electrically operated models are concerned. And unlike the simple materials of yesteryear, modern-day constructions offer solid welding with ergonomic features, able to be utilized even over the rough terrain that had rendered primitive stretchers useless. Ancient stretchers were simple man-sized litters or baskets hitched onto shoulder poles, requiring at least two people to bear it along, while modern models can need as little as just one attendant – or, even, depending on your definition of what a stretcher is, exactly (for advanced technology continues to redefine everything it touches), none at all sometimes, other than the person being transported him or herself, who would be operating any number of self-propelled electric devices now on the market.
The modern emergency stretcher is also quite versatile and can even double as full-fledged hospital beds, depending on the model, or hallway gurneys. Practical functions such as collapsibility and the presence of locking castors allow a range of uses never before envisioned. Ergonomic straps and other tie-downs are now available to prevent injury to both the casualty or patient and caregivers alike, as a well-designed stretcher not only physically stabilizes the rescued, but also allows the rescuer to operate safely, quickly, and efficiently. With superior construction and quality materials, well thought-out models can significantly improve the care giving effort in various respects.
Yet useful as they are they can serve many non-emergency roles, as previously noted, besides which a stretcher is not even the most appropriate equipment for all given situations, such as when a wheelchair may be more helpful. But stretchers are critical to health care and rescue efforts today, and will likely remain among the first pieces of hardware that is utilized.
