Illustrated lectures on ambulance work / by R. Lawton Roberts.

  • Roberts, R. Lawton.
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Illustrated lectures on ambulance work / by R. Lawton Roberts. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    tunic. The patient sits on the seat thus formed, and further secures himself, if he is able, by placing his arms on the shoulders of his bearers. If the patient is very helpless, the improvised seat should be placed close to his side or back; and the bearers, after carefully lifting him on to it, should rise up (lifting the seat) slowly together; and if any straps, belts, or accoutrements are available, the bearers can use them as shoulder straps with which to sling the seat, and then their hands are free to lend additional support to the patient. Patients whose injuries are comparatively slight (more particularly if it is the upper part of the body that is wounded —the arms, head, face, or upper portion of the trunk; or the foot) may be conveniently carried by one or other of the methods described. But when the joints are injured, or the bones fractured, of the lower limbs; or when there are severe wounds of the head, chest, or belly; or serious injury of the shoulder joint; or when there is much shock, faintness, or tendency to bleed; and indeed when the injuries are severe, or whenever the case is one of grave and sudden illness, such as apoplexy—then the patient should be carried in the lying-down j>osition by means of stretchers or other suitable conveyances. Methods of Lifting and Carrying the Sick or Injured on Stretchers. A stretcher may be described as a light and strong frame of an oblong shape (provided with handles), on which a canvas is stretched tightly so as to afford a comfortable and elastic support to anyone lying upon it. I cannot enumerate, far less describe, all the various stretchers that have been con- structed, from time to time, by different inventors; it will be sufficient for my purpose to notice two very good ones—the regulation stretcher of the British Army; and the folding stretcher, “ Furley pattern, which is supplied by the Ambu- lance Association. The Regulation Stretcher is made of a piece of canvas, G feet G inches long, I foot 11 inches wide, nailed to two side