Affiliations: Healthcare Ergonomics and Patient Safety Unit, Dept of
Human Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Sue Higneet, Healthcare Ergonomics
and Patient Safety Unit, Dept of Human Sciences, Loughborough University,
Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK. Tel.: +44 (0)1509 223003; Fax: +44
(0)1509 223940; E-mail: S.M.Hignett@lboro.ac.uk
Abstract: In the UK mountain rescues are carried out by highly trained
volunteers in all weather conditions and at any time of the day/night. They
interface with other services when they hand over the casualty to either land
or air ambulances. The design of the stretcher is important to the safety of
both the volunteers and casualties. This paper reports a usability trial to
evaluate the features of mountain rescue stretchers and identify
characteristics for future design. Two mountain rescue teams in the English
Lake District participated in a five week field experiment. Data were collected
using postural analysis with Rapid Entire Body Analysis, Body Part Discomfort
Surveys, Rated Perceived Exertion and focus groups to compare the performance
of four stretchers: Split Thomas, Ferno Titan, MacInnes mark 6 and MacInnes
mark 7. None of the stretchers had an overall advantage, with benefits for some
features counterbalanced by disadvantages resulting from others. All the
stretchers produced shoulder discomfort with the Split Thomas and MacInnes 6
lowering the postural risks through the use of skids/wheel in the carrying
phase. The key design features for future MR stretchers include: reduced
unloaded weight (e.g. light weight materials and mesh platforms);
undercarriage system to reduce the carrying load; adjustable handles at the
front and back positions; flexible carrying system with an optional harness
attachment; ease of assembly in adverse environmental conditions; large
carrying capacity. It is suggested that military emergency evacuation should be
considered in addition to mountain rescue tasks to identify a larger commercial
market for development.
Keywords: Manual handling, postural analysis, emergency care, stretcher design
