# Moving an Injured Person Part of the Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/emergency-preparedness/guide/index.md) > **6.** With another person, show two good ways to transport an injured person out of a remote area using improvised stretchers to conserve the energy of rescuers while ensuring the well-being and protection of the injured person. Moving an injured person is one of the most physically demanding and mentally challenging tasks in emergency response. Done wrong, it can make injuries worse — especially spinal injuries. Done right, it can get a person to safety when professional help is far away. > **Safety First!** > > **The default rule is: do not move an injured person.** Call for professional help and wait. You should only move someone if staying in place is more dangerous than moving — for example, if there is a fire, rising water, or other immediate threat. If you must move someone, support the head, neck, and spine at all times. --- ### When to Move an Injured Person Move someone only when: - The area is immediately dangerous (fire, flood, falling debris, chemical exposure) - Professional help cannot reach them and they need medical care urgently - Weather conditions (hypothermia, heat stroke) make staying in place dangerous --- ### Improvised Stretcher Methods You will not always have a commercial stretcher in the backcountry. These two methods use common materials to create a stable, comfortable stretcher that distributes the patient's weight and conserves rescuers' energy. ### Method 1: Blanket and Poles Stretcher **Materials needed:** Two sturdy poles (6-7 feet long — hiking sticks, tent poles, or straight branches) and a blanket, tarp, or sleeping bag. **How to build it:** 1. Lay the blanket flat on the ground. 2. Place one pole about one-third of the way from one edge of the blanket. 3. Fold the short side of the blanket over the pole. 4. Place the second pole on top of the folded blanket, near the fold. 5. Fold the remaining blanket over the second pole. 6. The weight of the patient on the blanket locks the folds in place — no knots or ties are needed. **Why it works:** The patient's weight creates friction that holds the blanket wrapped around the poles. The wider the blanket, the more stable and comfortable the stretcher. ### Method 2: Jacket Stretcher **Materials needed:** Two sturdy poles (same as above) and two or three buttoned or zippered jackets. **How to build it:** 1. Zip or button the jackets closed and turn them inside out, leaving the sleeves inside. 2. Thread the poles through the sleeves of each jacket so the poles run along the inside of the jacket. 3. Space the jackets evenly along the poles to support the patient's head, torso, and legs. **Why it works:** The jacket sleeves act as loops that hold the poles in place. Multiple jackets distribute the weight across the length of the stretcher. This method is fast to assemble with materials almost always available on a camping trip. ![Two Scouts carrying an improvised blanket-and-poles stretcher through a wooded trail](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/emergency-preparedness/guide/improvised-stretcher?v=9c9c9a6b) --- ### Carrying the Stretcher Once the stretcher is built, the carrying technique matters just as much as the construction. **Stretcher Carrying Tips** — Keep the patient safe and conserve your energy - [ ] Use at least two carriers (four is better for longer carries) - [ ] Carriers should be on the same side of the stretcher and walk in step - [ ] Carry the patient feet-first so the lead carrier can watch for obstacles - [ ] Keep the stretcher as level as possible — especially on slopes - [ ] Switch carriers frequently to prevent exhaustion (every 5-10 minutes) - [ ] Communicate clearly: "Step up," "Rock ahead," "Turning left" - [ ] If going uphill, carry the patient head-first so blood flows to the head - [ ] If going downhill, carry the patient feet-first > **Tip** > > Before you lift the stretcher, plan your entire route. Clear obstacles, identify rest stops, and agree on a pace. A slow, steady carry is always safer than a rushed one. The goal is to conserve energy — both yours and the patient's. --- ### Protecting the Patient While transporting, your priority is the patient's well-being: - **Stabilize injuries** before moving. Splint fractures, bandage wounds, and control bleeding first. - **Immobilize the spine** if you suspect a spinal injury — pad around the head and neck to prevent movement. - **Keep the patient warm** — cover them with a blanket or extra clothing. Injured people lose body heat quickly. - **Talk to the patient.** Reassure them, explain what you are doing, and monitor their condition during the carry. - **Monitor for shock.** Signs include pale skin, rapid breathing, confusion, and cold clammy skin. Keep the patient lying down with legs elevated (unless a spinal injury is suspected). Video: [Improvised Stretchers](https://youtu.be/EYfgxODBlwY) ![Four Scouts carefully carrying a stretcher along a narrow woodland trail, working as a team](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/emergency-preparedness/guide/stretcher-carry-trail?v=f81729df) --- - Previous: [Signaling for Help](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/emergency-preparedness/guide/req5/index.md) - Next: [NIMS and ICS](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/emergency-preparedness/guide/req7/index.md)