View Full Version : Litter carrier question?
18C/GS 0602
07-12-2007, 08:38
What are people using for a litter carrier while deployed? I agreed to help with a study looking at some of the new casualty evacuation systems and I think it is important to compare it to what is being used currently downrange. Thank you.
The Reaper
07-12-2007, 09:02
Not sure exactly what you are asking, but the Skedco seems very popular and is pretty portable, particularly if you can carry it on the outside of a vehicle. They work well for us. Israelis can work, but they are hard to set-up in a hurry.
The poleless litter is much more compact, but harder to carry. All about trade-offs.
Best of luck.
TR
What are people using for a litter carrier while deployed? I agreed to help with a study looking at some of the new casualty evacuation systems and I think it is important to compare it to what is being used currently downrange. Thank you.
Not an 18D, but used a lot of litters in the last 4 years.
In my recon troop we had Talon II litters. We put them in large ALICE packs with the rest of our CLS equipment. It fit nicely, but (and it's a big but) the Talon II is a pain in the 4th point of contact to setup, especially when under duress. Setting up a Talon II correctly and quickly takes a lot of practice and rehearsals. My guys practiced setting them up a lot.
We then switched to skedcos to get casualties out of the kill zone. We'd attach a standard litter to the rear HMMWV bumper with a quick release for the vehicles that didn't have Talon IIs. IMHO the standard litters were quicker to setup and easier to use, though there was quite a bit of dirt and grime that they inevitably picked up by riding around on the bumper.
18C/GS 0602
07-12-2007, 09:32
Not sure exactly what you are asking, but the Skedco seems very popular and is pretty portable, particularly if you can carry it on the outside of a vehicle. They work well for us. Israelis can work, but they are hard to set-up in a hurry.
The poleless litter is much more compact, but harder to carry. All about trade-offs.
Best of luck.
TR
Sorry if my question was difficult to understand. Your response was just what I was looking for. Thank you.
18C/GS 0602
07-12-2007, 09:36
We then switched to skedcos to get casualties out of the kill zone. We'd attach a standard litter to the rear HMMWV bumper with a quick release for the vehicles that didn't have Talon IIs. IMHO the standard litters were quicker to setup and easier to use, though there was quite a bit of dirt and grime that they inevitably picked up by riding around on the bumper.
RTK-
Thank you for your response. Is this the type of Skedco you were using?
http://www.skedco.com/detail.aspx?categoryID=2&subID=29&sku=SK-201
see also this one - it cost less then the Skedco and is smaller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snOi4BXfes0
i was on a course where really misused it, and it hold up.
there is also the slick, have not use that one.
blue02hd
07-12-2007, 19:20
For my money, I would grab the Talon everytime.
Yes I have used both. I hate Skedco's with a passion. Rigid litters are slower to assemble, but once in op allow two bearers to move a casualty MUCH faster with less agitation to the casualty. Skedco's require 4 bearers unless you just want to drag him all over the country side, which is not the greatest way to evac an already injured Joe.
Considering the bulk of kit we are carrying these days, you can strap a man to a Talon much faster than trying to fit him in that damn tortilla roll of a Skedco.
I say drill your litter bearers on the Talon as a primary and let that Skedco wait for the next Purple Heart.
But then again I loved the KYK 13, and the the M-79,,,,, /sigh.
RTK-
Thank you for your response. Is this the type of Skedco you were using?
http://www.skedco.com/detail.aspx?categoryID=2&subID=29&sku=SK-201
That's the one.
18C/GS 0602
07-15-2007, 21:41
Gentlemen thank you for your replies. You have been very helpful.
D9 (RIP)
07-27-2007, 15:59
I like the Foxtrot litter from Tactical Medical Solutions. It's a Kydxex semi-rigid litter - like a lightweight sked. Unlike a sked it would prob be a one use deal. The good thing is that it weighs 5 lbs and rolls up the size of your thermarest. I'm adding 2 to my new tac set.
FWIW