Improvised Litters

Orange fencing commonly used at construction sites can be used as a makeshift litter, as demonstrated by Mike and two unnamed, masked associates

Creatively free-thinking under stress is extremely difficult. Learn to see improvised techniques in your every day environment and they will occur to you when you need them.

Construction Barrier

A very lightweight construction barrier is used as an improvised litter to carry a 185 pound casualty. It was flimsy enough it had to be folded on itself but then worked quite well.

Improvised litter: Beach Lounge Chairs

A line of beach chairs is a line of improvised litters... Hoping never to need them, but it pays to be thinking about improvisation and battlefield recovery as we move through the world.

Standard chairs battlefield recovered as improvised litters

Carrying casualties is hard work. Finding something that is more ergonomic with which to carry them makes the process easier and faster. Running Tactical Casualty Care scenarios in a surprisingly well-furnished, but soon-to-be-demolished building gave us the opportunity to battlefield recover improvised litters from classrooms and offices.

Lightweight Pedestrian Barriers

Carrying casualties is hard work. Finding something that is more ergonomic with which to carry them makes the process easier and faster. All of London seems to be under construction and these plastic barriers are staged everywhere to block sidewalks and control pedestrian movement They'd also make a fine improvised litter for carrying casualties.

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Mike Shertz
Dr. Mike Shertz is the Owner and Lead Instructor at Crisis Medicine. Dr. Shertz spent over 30 years gaining the experience and insight to create and provide his comprehensive, science-informed, training to better prepare everyday citizens, law enforcement, EMS, and the military to manage casualties and wounded in high-risk environments. Using a combination of current and historical events, Dr. Shertz’s lectures include relevant, illustrative photos, as well as hands-on demonstrations to demystify the how, why, when to use each emergency medical procedure you need to become a Force Multiplier for Good.

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