Basket Stretcher A sling or rescue stretcher sling or a basket stretcher harness is an accessory used with a basket stretcher in the venture of search and rescue or emergency medical services. The sling is used in such a way that it will safely retain and stabilize the patient in the basket stretcher during transport. Some of the other beneficial characteristics or functions of the basket stretcher sling include the following.
1. Patient Support: One of the major uses of a basket stretcher sling is to hold and immobilise a patient in the stretcher. It assists in reducing changes of position and undue mobilities during transportation.
2. Harness Design: The scaffold component can contain a harness composed of straps and fittings that provide secure and comfortable positioning on a patient’s body. This harness design makes it possible for the patient to remain in the right posture and proper position all through their treatment period.
3. Head and Neck Support: Some basket stretcher slings have available head and neck support to immobilise and protect the head and neck during transport, especially in suspected cervical spine injuries.
4. Torso and Limb Restraints: The sling may contain straps or restraints to hold the patient’s trunk and limbs as she or he lies on the stretcher. These restraints help prevent the patient from moving or changing positions, which might not be comfortable during transportation.
5. Padding and Comfort: Some slings are constructed in a way that offers extra comfort to the patient through harnessing optimised cushioning to minimise the formation of pressure ulcers any time the patient is being transported.
6. Adjustable Straps: The straps that are used in making the slings may be fastened in a way that will favour different sizes of patients to avoid slippage.
7. Easy Attachment: Basket stretcher slings are intended to be easily connected to the stretcher; it is also convenient for an emergency person to set the sling and safely secure the patient to the stretcher.
8. Weight Capacity: As with the stretcher, a sling has a certain load limit that ends with a patient and should not be overworked to avoid harming patients.
9. Easy Cleaning: The type of materials used in the basket stretcher slings is easy to clean as well as disinfect for hygienic purposes.
10. Durability: This is to mean that these slings are made from a material that can endure the task of rescue missions and other calamities.
Basket stretcher slings are important where patients require safe extrication from difficult or clinical conditions, like thin terrain, caves, or small spaces. These make sure that in some cases the patient requires support and immobilisation within the stretcher, which reduces the chances of further injury while being evacuated. Concern has to be made to ensure that the staff in charge of rescue operations as well as patient handling are adequately trained to understand which procedures they should follow when using basket stretcher slings.
