Stretcher Building

Part of First Aid

When someone cannot walk and you need to move them, an improvised stretcher built from poles, fabric, or branches is the difference between safe transport and further injury.

Moving an injured person without proper support risks worsening spinal injuries, reopening wounds, and causing shock from pain. A stretcher distributes their weight evenly, keeps the body stable, and lets two or more people carry someone over distances that would be impossible by dragging or fireman’s carry.

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Pole-and-Fabric Stretcher

The fastest and most reliable design. Two poles with fabric stretched between them.

Materials

• 2 poles: 2-2.5 meters long, 5-8 cm diameter. Must support weight without bending. Hardwood saplings (oak, ash, maple, hickory) work best. Avoid brittle dead wood.
• Fabric panel: A blanket, tarp, sleeping bag, two jackets, or large section of canvas. Needs to be at least 60 cm wide and 180 cm long.
• Cordage (optional): For reinforcing connections if fabric alone is not secure.

Construction

Method 1 — Blanket Wrap (fastest, no tools needed):

1. Lay the blanket flat on the ground
2. Place the first pole one-third of the way from one edge
3. Fold the short side of the blanket over the pole
4. Place the second pole on top of the folded-over fabric, roughly 60 cm from the first pole
5. Fold the remaining fabric over the second pole

The patient’s weight on the blanket creates friction that locks the fabric around the poles. No tying required. This holds for patients up to roughly 100 kg.

Method 2 — Jacket Stretcher (when no large fabric is available):

1. Turn two jackets inside out but do not pull the sleeves through
2. Zip or button them closed
3. Thread the poles through the sleeves — each pole goes through both jacket sleeves
4. Space the jackets along the poles to create a carrying surface
5. For a heavier patient, add a third jacket in the middle

Method 3 — Lashed Frame (most durable):

1. Lay two poles parallel, 60 cm apart
2. Lash 4-5 crossbars (sticks, 70 cm long) perpendicular to the poles at 40 cm intervals using square lashings (see Knots and Cordage)
3. Weave additional branches, vines, or strips of fabric between the crossbars to create a platform
4. Pad the surface with clothing, moss, or leaves

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Drag Stretcher (Travois)

When you only have one or two people and cannot carry a stretcher, a travois lets you drag the patient.

Construction

1. Use two poles, 2.5-3 meters long
2. Lash the thin ends together at one point — this is the front (drag point)
3. Spread the thick ends apart to roughly 60-80 cm — this is the platform end
4. Lash crossbars between the two poles starting about 1 meter from the lashed junction
5. Create a bed surface by weaving fabric, branches, or vines across the crossbars
6. Pad the bed generously — the patient will feel every bump

Using a Travois

• One person stands between the poles at the junction end, holding one pole in each hand
• Lean forward and drag — the spreading poles create natural stability
• Move slowly over rough ground to minimize jolts
• On downhill slopes, turn around and go backward to control speed
• Can also be attached to a pack animal if one is available

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Emergency Carry Methods

When you cannot build a stretcher and must move someone immediately.

Method	Carriers	Best For	Limitations
Fireman’s carry	1	Conscious or unconscious, no spinal injury	Exhausting, short distances only
Two-person seat carry	2	Conscious patient, arm/leg injuries	Patient must hold onto carriers’ necks
Fore-and-aft carry	2	Unconscious patient, no spinal injury	One carrier at shoulders, one at knees
Blanket drag	1	Unconscious, suspected spinal injury on flat ground	Place patient on blanket, drag by head end
Log roll onto board	3+	Suspected spinal injury	Requires rigid board; roll patient as single unit

Two-Person Seat Carry

1. Two carriers face each other on opposite sides of the patient
2. Each person grips their own left wrist with their right hand
3. Each person grips the other’s right wrist with their left hand — forming a square “seat”
4. Lower the seat behind the patient
5. Patient sits on the linked arms and holds onto carriers’ shoulders
6. Stand together on a count of three

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Stretcher Dimensions and Load Testing

Before placing a patient on any improvised stretcher, test it.

Critical Dimensions

• Width between poles: 55-65 cm (wide enough for shoulders, narrow enough to fit through doorways and between trees)
• Length: 190-220 cm (long enough that the patient’s head and feet don’t hang off)
• Pole diameter: Minimum 5 cm for hardwood. Anything thinner risks snapping under load
• Ground clearance for travois: Crossbar bed should be at least 10 cm off the ground to clear obstacles

Load Testing

1. Place the stretcher on two supports (rocks, logs) at each end
2. Press down firmly in the center with both hands
3. If possible, have someone sit on it briefly
4. Check all lashing points for slippage
5. Verify poles do not flex more than 5 cm under body weight — excessive flex means the wood is too thin or too green

Warning

Never place a patient with a suspected spinal injury on a flexible stretcher. Spinal patients need a rigid surface — a door, a wide board, or a stretcher with a rigid crossbar frame. The body must not sag or bend during transport.

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Carrying Techniques

How you carry matters as much as what you carry on.

Four-Person Carry (Standard)

• One carrier at each corner of the stretcher
• All carriers face the direction of travel
• The person at the patient’s head calls commands: “Ready, lift” and “Ready, lower”
• Lift on the same count, walk in step
• Keep the stretcher as level as possible

Two-Person Carry

• One carrier at each end of the stretcher
• The carrier at the foot end faces forward; the carrier at the head end faces backward (watching the patient)
• For uphill travel: patient’s head goes uphill (feet first in the direction of travel)
• For downhill travel: patient’s head goes downhill (head first in the direction of travel)
• Exception: If the patient has leg injuries, keep legs elevated — reverse the above

Obstacle Navigation

• Narrow passages: Turn the stretcher 45 degrees and shuffle sideways
• Fences and low walls: Set the stretcher on top, two carriers cross to the other side, then slide the stretcher across
• Steep slopes: Use ropes tied to the stretcher poles for additional control — one person ahead pulling, two behind controlling descent
• Water crossings: Keep the patient as dry as possible. If the water is shallow, carry normally. If deeper, consider building a raft or waiting for a better crossing point

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Padding and Patient Comfort

An injured person on an improvised stretcher will be in pain. Reduce it.

• Pad the stretcher surface with clothing, blankets, moss, grass, or pine boughs
• Place extra padding under the small of the back (lumbar support) and behind the knees
• Secure the patient to the stretcher with straps or tied cloth at the chest, hips, and legs — they should not be able to slide or roll off
• In cold weather, insulate from below first — ground contact through a stretcher saps body heat faster than air exposure
• Cover the patient with a blanket or tarp, especially in rain or wind
• Talk to the patient throughout transport — anxiety and fear worsen shock

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Key Takeaways

• The blanket-wrap pole stretcher takes under 5 minutes to build and requires no cordage — friction from the patient’s weight locks the fabric
• Always load-test an improvised stretcher before placing a patient on it; poles must not flex more than 5 cm
• A travois (drag stretcher) works when you lack enough carriers for a standard stretcher
• Suspected spinal injuries demand a rigid surface — never use a flexible stretcher for spine patients
• Secure the patient to the stretcher at chest, hips, and legs to prevent sliding during transport