GB2135586A

GB2135586A - Rescue harness

Info

Publication number: GB2135586A
Application number: GB08331627A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Fallan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-12-03
Filing date: 1983-11-26
Publication date: 1984-09-05
Also published as: GB8331627D0; GB2135586B

Abstract

The present invention provides a rescue harness 1 suitable for an accident victim, which harness comprises a substantially rigid generally flat elongate back support member 2 provided at one end 5 with a substantially rigid head support 6 formed and arranged for cradling the back of the head of the victim in use of the harness 1, said head support 6 having retaining strap means 9 for securing the head on said head support 6, and two handle support means 12, 13, 16 extending laterally from each side of said back support member, 2 for supporting handle means 18 on opposed sides of said back support member 6. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rescue harness The present invention relates to a safety harness suitable for accident victims and other persons especially those with suspected back injuries.

It is well known that it is vital for the avoidance of further injury that persons with back injuries should only be moved if they are properly and carefully supported. Ideally this would normally be done with the aid of a suitably rigid stretcher.

Such devices are however relatively large and cumbersome and thus difficult to store and be carried around with other rescue equipment.

Moreover in many cases, as for example in motor vehicle accidents, the accident victim is trapped in a confined space in which it is usually impossible to use any conventional form of stretcher.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid or minimize one or more of the above disadvantages.

The present invention provides a rescue harness suitable for an accident victim, which harness comprises a substantially rigid generally flat elongate back support member provided at one end with a substantially rigid head support formed and arranged for cradling the back of the :head of the victim in use of the harness, said head support having retaining strap means for securing the head on said head support, and at least two flexible, longitudinally spaced apart, extending laterally from each side of said back support member, handle support means, for supporting handle means on opposed sides of said back support member.

The relative compact and flexible nature of the harness of the present invention enables it to be readily inserted into a position to support an accident victim even in very confined spaces and then enable the victim to be safely removed.

Further preferred features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description given by way of example of a preferred embodiment illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a plan view of a rescue harness of the invention together with a thigh support suitable for use therewith.

The drawing shows a rescue harness 1 having a central elongate substantially rigid back support 2 conveniently made up of a flat wooden board or plastics plate 3 covered with a synthetic textile material 4. At one end 5 is provided a head support 6 which is shaped to cradle the neck and base of the skull of an accident victim. The support 6 is conveniently moulded in glass reinforced plastics or other like material and may be padded to some extent.

The head support 6 has an elongate root 7 at its lower end which is telescopically received in the interior of the back support 2 in order to enable adjustment of the harness 'size' to suit persons of different sizes, the head support being secured at a desired position relative to the back support with the aid of a suitable clamping screw 8.

In order to retain the victim's head securely in the head support 6 an adjustable length retaining strap means 9 is positioned on either side of the head support 6 so that it can be fastened around the victims forehead. Most conveniently the strap means 9 is provided with a touch closing hook and-loop type fastening 10 of the type manufactured by the Velcro company under the 'Velcro' trademark.

At the upper end 5 of the back support 2 (below the head support 6) and at the lower end 11 are provided respective flexible transverse straps 12, 13 which extend laterally to either side of the back support 2. At their respective outer ends 14, the transverse straps 12, 13 are interconnected by stabiliser straps 15 extending parallel to the back support 2 in order to provide some additional support to the victim's body and prevent excessive transverse movement of the flexible transverse straps 12, 13. Although the stabiliser straps 15 may be rigid or semi-rigid, this is not in fact necessary and they may also be flexible to some extent.At the outer ends 14 of the transverse straps 12, 13 are provided handle means which in the illustrated embodiment are in the form of short webbing loops 1 6 through which are threaded respective ends 17 of generally rigid handle rods 18, the loops 16 being retained on said ends 17 with the aid of clip means 19. This form of handle means is particularly convenient since it requires the use, if necessary, of only one hand on each side whilst providing good stability relative to the victims body and back support 2 and permitting easy removal of the handles if desired e.g. during the taking of x-rays. Nevertheless other forms of handle means could also be used e.g. simple hand loops at the ends of the transverse straps 12.

Each of the stabiliser straps 15 is provided at its outside edge 20 with a pair of spaced apart 'D'-rings 21, for connection of the respective ends 22 (e.g. springclips) of respective restraining straps 23. These are not in fact necessary and are used primarily for the reassurance of the victim so that one restraining strap or indeed no restraining strap at all could also be used, the victim being in practice securely held by the head strap 9 and by his/her own body weight on the back support.

Conveniently a thigh support strap 24 provided with hand loops 25 is used in conjunction with the main harness 1 to support the lower part of the body.

In use of the harness on a car accident victim seated in a car harness is slid into position behind the victim between the seat back and the victims back (with the handle rods removed if necessary to ease insertion) and the head support 6 adjusted in its extension relative to the back support 2 to suit the size of the victims body. The head strap 9 is then fastened around the forehead with the head held well back and fully supported in the head support 6. The restraining straps 23 (if used) are secured around the front of the victims body and the victim then swivelled around through 900 to bring the victim's back clear of the seat back.

The victim's body is then lowered backwards on the harness 1 into a more or less horizontal position. If used the thigh strap 24 is then positioned under the thighs and the victim may now be safely lifted off the seat and withdrawn from the vehicle.

It will be appreciated that various materials may be used in construction of the harness and various modifications made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The various straps are desirably made of a strong water-resistant, and durable material. Heavy synthetic polymer textiles are particularly suitable.

One example that may be mentioned is terylene (trade mark) manufactured by l.C.l. p.l.c of Great Britian. For safety reasons the harness desirably includes bright fluorescent or luminous markings.

Apart possibly from the handle rods, D-rings and securing hooks, the harness should be constructed of materials as x-ray transparent as possible to permit x-rays to be quickly taken without the need for removal of the harness.

Naturally the harness may also be used for carrying persons other than in rescue situations and other than those suffering from back injuries.

Claims

1 .-A rescue harness suitable for an accident victim, which harness comprises a substantially rigid generally flat elongate back support member provided at one end with a substantially rigid head support formed and arranged for cradling the back of the head of the victim in use of the harness, said head support having retaining strap means for securing the head on said head support, and at least two longitudinally spaced apart handle support means at each side of said back support member, for supporting handle means on opposed sides of said back support member.

2. A harness as claimed in claim 1 wherein said handle support means extend laterally from each side of the back support member 2.

3. A harness as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said handle means are at least partly flexible.

4. A harness as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 which includes at least two transversely extending, longitudinally spaced apart, strap means at each side of the back support member.

5. A harness as claimed in claim 4 wherein the transverse strap means are interconnected by stabiliser straps parallel to but spaced from the back support member.

6. A harness as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the handle support means include loops disposed on said transverse strap means remote from the back support member.

7. A harness as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the head support is connected to the back support member so as to be longitudinally displaceable relative thereto and securable thereto in a plurality of different positions whereby the harness can be adjusted for different victim trunk lengths.

8. A harness as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 which includes a pair of generally rigid elongate handles.

9. A harness as claimed in claim 8 wherein the handles are detachably secured to the handle support means.

10. A harness as claimed in claim 9 wherein the handle support means comprise loops and wherein the handles are provided with hooks engageable in said loops.

11. A harness as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein is provided a separate elongate thigh support strap with handle means at each end for use in conjunction with the back support, whereby substantially the whole body of a victim may be supported by two rescuers acting on opposite sides of the harness with one hand to each of the back support and thigh support.

12. A rescue harness for an accident victim substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.