Page 41 - lifting and moving-converted (2)_Spread

Parka litter.

A rope stretcher is constructed by stretching a 150 to 200 ft (46

to 61 m) rope on the ground and determining its midpoint. At

the midpoint, fold the rope back on itself. Measure 3 ft (91 cm)

from the bend, and fold each half of the rope back again to the

outside. This creates the central “rungs” of a “ladder” that will

be 3 ft wide. Repeat the process of folding the rope back on

itself in 3 ft segments, moving away from the central rungs in

each direction and laying out a series of evenly spaced parallel

loops. About 16 or 18 loops (rungs) should create a ladder

approximately the same length as the victim. Take the two

remaining long ends of the rope and lay them perpendicular to

the rungs, alongside the bends in the rope. Use the long ends to

secure the loops together (completing the long sides of the

ladder) by tying a clove hitch or other secure knot onto each

consecutive bend in the rope 2 to 3 in (5 to 7.5 cm) inside the

bend, so that a small loop remains to the outside of the knot.

Each pair of knots should be separated by 3 to 4 in (7.5 to 10

cm). After all the knots are tied, the rope ends are threaded

through the small outside loops as the remaining lengths are

circled around the outside of the stretcher and finally tied off.