WO2008053500A1

WO2008053500A1 - Emergency stretcher

Info

Publication number: WO2008053500A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000764
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ermanno Bartalena Lukacs
Original assignee: Ermanno Bartalena Lukacs
Priority date: 2006-10-31
Filing date: 2006-10-31
Publication date: 2008-05-08

Abstract

An emergency stretcher (1) suitable for recovering an transporting an injured person comprises a support structure (2) having an elongated shape in the longitudinal direction thereof, which is suitable for supporting said injured person, and having two opposite ends (3, 4) in this longitudinal direction. The stretcher (1) comprises a plurality of portions (6) that are intended to be sequentially arranged in this longitudinal direction, locking means suitable to rigidly connect these portions (6) to each other such as to provide this elongated shape of the stretcher (1), release means suitable to release the locking means, such as to allow a relative movement between at least two of these portions (6) in order to reduce the longitudinal overall dimensions of the stretcher (1).

Description

DESCRIPTION t^vEMERGENCY STRETCHER"

[0001] The object of the present invention is an emergency stretcher, particularly a stretcher suitable for recovering and transporting persons who had more or less serious accidents or injuries.

[0002] In the event of accidents or suspected serious injuries, the injured person is required to be recovered from the injury site and transported, for example on board an ambulance or helicopter or with a craft, to a place where he/she can be subjected to suitable treatment, such as a hospital. These operations must be carried out by reducing the movements that are imparted to the injured person's body to a minimum, in order to avoid further worsening his/her conditions. A typical situation is that in which an injured person must be assisted in the presence of either established or even just suspected lesions to the vertebral column.

[0003] To facilitate first-aid operations, the so-called scoop stretchers are normally used.

[0004] A scoop stretcher is a stretcher suitable for recovering an injured person, which can be separated in the longitudinal direction in two portions, which are caused to laterally pass under the injured person's body one by one, and then reconnected to each other to form the complete stretcher under the injured person's body. In order to allow recovering an injured person, the two portions of the scoop stretcher have tapered profiles in the crosswise section thereof, which act as spoons facing each other.

[0005] In the event that serious lesions are established or even just suspected, the scoop stretcher is not a sufficiently rigid support for transport, as the injured person's body is only supported by the scoop portions. Accordingly, the scoop stretcher with the injured person's body loaded thereon according to the modes described above is placed on a rigid support and fixed thereto. Usually, a so-called spinal stretcher is used as the rigid support, which is a stretcher formed as one piece having a rigid support plane that is capable of rigidly supporting the injured person's body during transportation.

[0006] Furthermore, the scoop stretcher must be assembled below the injured person's body. This results to be a not always easy operation, which may entail undesired movements of the injured person's back.

[0007] Furthermore, the scoop stretcher, due to the configuration thereof, can be only used in particular conditions. In fact, in order to rescue an injured person, the scoop stretcher is required to act on both sides of the injured person's body, where a sufficiently- large space must be available for positioning and moving the two portions thereof. When this is not the case, the injured person's body must be manually displaced to a position in which it can be picked up with the spoon stretcher, thus entailing the hazard of further worsening his/her conditions.

[0008] Furthermore, when the injured person needs to be transported by being rigidly blocked, the scoop stretcher, as stated above, must be used in co-operation with a rigid support, such as a spinal stretcher. This co-operation of the scoop stretcher with a rigid support having a total longitudinal extension similar therewith entails considerable encumbrance problems. This problem is particularly felt during a first-aid operation, because - as stated above - a suitable space for using the scoop stretcher is not always available at the site in which the injured person is lying. Furthermore, the need of using two different supports for an individual first-aid operation entails a further encumbrance problem, such as in the case where first-aid is carried out using an ambulance, a helicopter or boat, which are characterized by a particularly narrow space available. [0009] The object of the present invention is thus to provide an emergency stretcher which overcomes the drawbacks cited with reference to the prior art.

[0010] Particularly, the object of the present invention is to provide an emergency stretcher which allows picking up an injured person in narrow spaces that are difficult to reach.

[001I]A further object of the present invention is to provide an emergency stretcher allowing both the operation of picking up an injured person's body by reducing the movements of the latter to a minimum, and the operation of transportation under rigid-locking conditions, such as to ensure high safety conditions even in the event of, either established or just supposed, serious clinical status.

[0012] Finally, a further object of the present invention is to provide an emergency stretcher, which - when unused - can be easily transported and also housed within a very narrow space, such as on board an ambulance or a helicopter for helicopter rescue or a craft, such as a water scooter.

[0013] These and other objects are achieved by means of an emergency stretcher suitable for recovering and transporting an injured person, which comprises a support structure having an elongated shape in the longitudinal direction that is suitable for supporting the injured person and has two opposite ends in this longitudinal direction, wherein this stretcher comprises :

[0014] - a plurality of portions intended to be sequentially arranged in this longitudinal direction,-

[0015] - locking means suitable for rigidly connecting these portions to each other such as to provide the elongated shape of the stretcher;

[0016] - release means suitable for releasing the locking means, such as to allow a relative movement between at least two of these portions in order to reduce the longitudinal overall dimensions of the stretcher.

[0017] In order to better understand the invention and appreciate the advantages thereof, some exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of the same will be described herein below, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

[0018] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an emergency stretcher according to the invention;

[0019] Fig. 2 is a side view of the emergency stretcher in Fig. l; [0020] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a detail of the emergency stretcher in Fig. 1 in a particular condition of use;

[0021] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the detail of the emergency stretcher in Fig. 3 in a different condition of use;

[0022] Fig. 5 is a sectional side view of the detail of the emergency stretcher in Fig . 4 ;

[0023] Fig. 6 is a side view of the emergency stretcher in Fig. 1 in a particular condition of use;

[0024] Fig. 7 is a side view of the emergency stretcher in Fig. 1 in a further particular condition of use;

[0025] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an emergency stretcher according to a further embodiment of the invention;

[0026] Fig. 9 is a side view of an emergency stretcher according to a further embodiment of the invention;

[0027] With reference to the figures, an emergency stretcher suitable for recovering and transporting an injured person (not shown in the figures) is designated with numeral 1.

[0028] The stretcher 1 comprises a support structure 2 having an elongated shape, which extends in the longitudinal direction, such as to be capable of transporting the injured person in the lying down position. The support structure 2 is defined in this longitudinal direction by two ends 3 and 4 opposite to each other .

[0029] The stretcher 1 comprises a plurality of portions 6 that are intended to be sequentially arranged in this longitudinal direction, such as to be capable of being sequentially inserted under the injured person's body without the latter being required to be manually moved.

[0030] The stretcher 1 further comprises locking means that are suitable to rigidly connect these portions 6 to each other such as to provide this elongated shape of the stretcher, and release means that are suitable to release said locking means, such as to allow a relative movement between at least two of these portions 6 in order to reduce the longitudinal overall dimensions of the stretcher l, particularly the projection of the latter from the injured person when the stretcher is being inserted under his/her body.

[0031] Thereby, a portion 6 at a time can be inserted under the injured person and rigidly locked to the subsequent portion 6 by means of the locking means only when required, thus increasing the overall longitudinal extension of the stretcher in a gradual manner and. directly under the injured person. The stretcher 1 according to the invention can thus be also used in a very narrow space, without requiring considerable movements of the injured person.

[0032] Advantageously, the release means comprise selective release means, which are suitable for selectively releasing, i.e. independently of each other, the connection between two adjacent portions 6. Thereby, a pair of portions 6 can be mutually unlocked independently of the other pairs of portions 6 of the stretcher 1.

[0033] Preferably, the support structure 2 has the shape of a substantially elongated rectangle, such as to be capable of supporting an injured person in a laying down position while minimizing the lateral overall dimensions of the stretcher 1. This rectangle is laterally defined by two longitudinal sides 7 and 8 and crosswise by the two opposite ends 3 and 4.

[0034] Advantageously, along the longitudinal sides 7 and 8 of the support structure 2, preferably tubular side reinforcements 13 and 14 are formed, respectively, which define a patient seat 15 in which the injured person can be supported by being laterally contained. [0035] In accordance with an embodiment, the support structure 2 comprises four portions 6, distinct from each other, preferably substantially plate-like and rectangular, and particularly two inner portions 9 and 10 and two outer portions 11 and 12.

[0036] These two outer portions 11 and 12 are transversally externally defined by the ends 3 and 4, respectively.

[0037] Advantageously, the portions 6 are pivotally connected to each other, such that the stretcher 1 can turn from an at least partially folded configuration to an at least partially expanded configuration, and vice versa. Particularly, the stretcher 1 can turn from a fully folded configuration (Fig. 7) to a fully expanded configuration (Fig. 1) . In the fully folded configuration, the stretcher 1 is suitable for being put away and transported, and occupies a very narrow space. In the fully expanded configuration, the stretcher 1 reaches its maximum longitudinal extension and is thus suitable for transporting the injured person. The intermediate configurations (see, for example, Fig. 6) between the fully folded configuration and the fully expanded configuration can be usefully employed for the recovery of the injured person in narrow space conditions .

[0038] Preferably, the portions 6 are hinged to each other about axes transversal to this direction of longitudinal extension of the stretcher 1. Still more preferably, three pairs of hinges 27 are provided, preferably of the foldaway type, which are placed between the outer portion 11 and the inner portion 9, between the two inner portions 9 and 10 and between the inner portion 10 and the outer portion 12, respectively, and arranged such that the relative rotations of adjacent portions 6 occur about axes substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the stretcher 1.

[0039] Advantageously, at least one of the opposite ends 3 and 4 forms a thinned paddle-like portion 5. This paddle-like portion 5 has the function of facilitating the insertion of the stretcher 1 under the injured person by means of the end forming this paddle-like portion 5.

[0040] In accordance with an embodiment, each of the opposite ends 3 and 4 forms a paddle-like portion 5, such that the stretcher 1 can be inserted under the injured person in either of the longitudinal ways thereof .

[0041] Advantageously, each paddle-like portion 5 has, in the longitudinal direction, a profile with a substantially outwardly-tapered ramp development (see, for example, Fig. 2) , such as to be capable of being inserted under the injured person's body and gradually lifting the latter from the ground due to the wedge- effect ensured by the ramp-like profile.

[0042] Still more advantageously, this paddle-like portion 5 has, in the longitudinal section thereof, a double bend. Particularly, the profile of the paddle-like portion 5 preferably has an inclination that is substantially either equal to zero, or very small, in the longitudinally outermost area, which increases to an eventually constant value in the longitudinally intermediate area, and that decreases again to become substantially zero in the longitudinally innermost area, in order to cause the paddle-like portion 5 to gradually join with the patient seat 15. Thereby, the pathway discontinuities to which the injured person has to be subjected are minimized during the recovery operation, and consequently also the possibility of causing further damages thereto during the recovery from the seat where he/she lays injured.

[0043] Advantageously, the stretcher 1 comprises one or more locking units 26, each of which comprises a locking member 17 supported by a first seat 16 that is formed in a first portion 60 of a pair of two adjacent portions 6

(Fig. 3, 4 and 5) . This locking member 17 can be displaced between a retracted position (Fig. 3) and an extended position (Fig. 4 and 5) .

[0044] Each of the locking units 26 further comprises a handle 18 that is connected, for example by means of welding and/or threaded connection, to the locking member 17, such that the latter can be manually displaced between the retracted position and the extended position.

[0045] Still more advantageously, the releasable locking unit comprises a second seat 160 being formed in a second portion 600 of the pair of adjacent portions 6. This second seat 160 is suitable to be engaged by the locking member 17 when the latter is in the extended position, such that the two adjacent portions 60 and 600 can be rigidly locked to each other in the expanded configuration. Thereby, the locking means are provided which are suitable for rigidly connecting two adjacent portions 60 and 600. Thereby, the release means are also further provided, which are suitable to release the locking means, since the locking member 17, when it is in the extended position, can be brought back to the retracted position, thus releasing the engagement within the seats 16 and 160 of the adjacent portions 60 and 600, respectively.

[0046] The seats 16 and 160 are preferably cylindrical, defined by cylindrical walls 28 and 29, respectively. Furthermore, the locking member 17 is also preferably cylindrical, such as to be capable of sliding within these seats 16 and 160.

[0047] Preferably, for each pair of adjacent portions 60, 600, a releasable locking unit 26 is provided along both longitudinal sides 7 and 8 of the support structure 2, such as to ensure a fastening action to the rotation being substantially symmetrical relative to the longitudinal direction of extension of the stretcher 1. Still more preferably, these seats 16, 160 are formed in the side reinforcements 13 and 14 of the support structure 2.

[0048] Advantageously, each of the releasable locking units 26 comprises guide means 21 imparting two movements to the handle 18. A first movement is comprised between a release position, in which the handle 18 places the locking member 17 in the retracted position thereof, and an engagement position, in which the handle 18 places the locking member 17 in the extended position thereof. A second movement is comprised between a lowered position, which allows moving the adjacent portion 6 towards each other in the folded configuration, and a raised position relative to the plane of the stretcher 1, thereby allowing the latter to be easily lifted.

[0049] Still more advantageously, the guide means 21 are configured such that the handle 18, when it is stationary in the raised position, is also locked in the engagement position, and only when it is stationary in the lowered position, it can be brought to the release position.

[0050] In accordance with an embodiment, the guide means comprise grooves 210, which are formed in the support structure 2, preferably in the cylindrical walls 28 and 29 defining the seats 16 and 160.

[0051] These grooves 210 advantageously comprise a first groove portion 211 which imparts the first movement to the handle 18, and a second groove portion 212 which imparts the second movement to the handle 18.

[0052] Preferably, each groove 210 is L-shaped and oriented such that a first side of the L, corresponding to the first groove portion 211, is substantially parallel to the direction of longitudinal extension of the stretcher 1, and a second side of the L, corresponding to the second groove portion 212, is substantially orthogonal to the first one.

[0053] When the handle 18 is in the first side 211 of the L-shaped groove 210 (Fig. 3) , it is in the lowered position and can be longitudinally displaced from the release position to the engagement position, and vice versa. During this displacement, the handle 18 moves the locking member 17 within the first seat 16 longitudinally from the retracted position to the extended position, and vice versa.

[0054] When the handle 18 is in the second side 212 of the groove 210 (Fig. 4) , it can be displaced, i.e. rotated, between the lowered position and the raised position (such as shown in Fig. 4) and vice versa, while maintaining the locking member 17 longitudinally in the extended position. When the handle 18 is turned to the lowered position, the locking member 17 can be still displaced in the retracted position. On the contrary, when the handle 18 is in the raised position in the second side 212 of the groove 210, it is also in the locking position, at which the locking member 17 is longitudinally locked in the extended position and thus the two adjacent portions 60 and 600 are rigidly locked to each other.

[0055] When the handle 18 is in the locking position (in the raised position) , it is also suitable for transportation and can be used as a manual grip for lifting and transporting the stretcher 1, particularly when the latter is supporting the injured person. The second side 212 of the L-shaped groove 210 is advantageously oriented such that, due to gravity, while an injured person is being transported, the handle 18 spontaneously tends to move to the locking position

(i.e. in the raised position relative to the stretcher plane) . Thereby, the risk that the two adjacent portions

60 and 600 may be inadvertedly unlocked is avoided. In order to facilitate transportation of the stretcher 1, the handles 18 are perfectly L-shaped.

[0056] Advantageously, the locking members 17 have a tubular shape and, still more advantageously, the handles 18 also have a tubular shape. Thereby, the total weight of the stretcher 1 can be reduced, and thus transportation can be made easier.

[0057] The stretcher 1 can comprise first locking belts (not shown in the figures) which, are suitable to lock the injured person in the patient seat 15. These first belts are preferably connected to the stretcher 1 on the upper side thereof at the side reinforcements 13 being formed in the outer portions 11 and 12 of the support structure 2.

[0058] Due to the tubular shape of the handles 18, either alternatively or in addition to these first locking belts, the stretcher 1 can comprise second locking belts

(not shown in the figures) , which can be caused to slide within each of the tubular handles 18 by means of two opposite through holes 19 and 20 being formed therein.

[0059] The stretcher 1 according to the invention can be used for rescue operations also in particularly challenging and dangerous environments, such as snow- covered grounds (ski slopes, mountain paths, or the like) or non-dry land conditions (sea, river, lake, or the like) .

[0060] In accordance with an embodiment (Fig. 8) , the stretcher 1 comprises one or more handlebars 22 that are suitable to further facilitating transportation. Preferably, these handlebars 22, which are made for example of aluminium or polymerized plastic material, are in a number of two and can be removably connected to the stretcher 1 crosswise to the direction of longitudinal extension thereof, such as at those pairs of handles 18 that are closest to the ends 3 and 4, respectively. This connection to the handles 18 can be carried out at holes formed in the handles 18, such as by a ball catch clamping within the holes 19. Preferably, these handlebars 22 are telescopic, such as to occupy little space when they are disconnected from the handles 18.

[0061] Advantageously, the stretcher 1 further comprises an upholstered structure 23 that can be removably applied to the support structure 2, such as by means of a plurality of snap fasteners (not shown in the figures) that are positioned in the lower side of the support structure 2.

[0062] This upholstered structure 23 is suitable for sliding on the snow and thermally insulating the injured person form the snow-covered ground during the operation of transportation. To this purpose, the upholstered structure 23 can be made for example of a plastic- and rubber- based composite material.

[0063] The upholstered structure 23 can further comprise one or more end skis 24, such as to facilitate the manoeuvrability of the stretcher 1 while being transported on the snow.

[0064] The stretcher 1 can be thus easily transported on the snow, such as by two skiers (not shown in the figures) that position themselves at the two ends 3 and 4 of the support structure 2 and hold the latter by- means of the handlebars 22. The stretcher 1 can slide on the snow due to the upholstered structure 23 and can be easily directed during transportation due to the end skis 24 facing the downhill direction.

[0065] In accordance with a further embodiment (Fig. 9) , the stretcher 1 comprises one or more floating cushions 25, preferably of the self-inflating type, which can be removably connected to the support structure 2, such as by means of the snap fasteners that are also used for removably connecting the upholstered structure 23 for recovery on the snow. Thereby, the stretcher 1 can float and be easily transported also on the water, such as to the dry land, or to a place that can be reached by a helicopter for helicopter rescue.

[0066] Advantageously, the stretcher 1 is made of materials having a high mechanical resistance combined with a small specific weight, such as to facilitate transportation. Particularly, the portions 6 of the support structure 2 can be made of carbon fiber with a honeycombed inner structure and the handles 18 can be made of polymerized plastic material. The stretcher 1 is thus radiotransparent and does not require moving the injured person in the event that the latter has to be subjected to radiography, for example.

[0067] From the above description, those skilled in the art may appreciate how the emergency stretcher according to the invention resolves the problems connected to the emergency stretchers according to the prior art.

[0068] Particularly, those skilled in the art may appreciate how the emergency stretcher according to the invention is suitable for recovering injured persons even in very narrow space conditions, as it requires to be inserted under the injured person one portion at a time, with the remaining portions being capable of being maintained either in a partially or fully folded configuration, thus allowing a considerable reduction in the lateral and longitudinal overall dimensions thereof.

[0069] Furthermore, those skilled in the art may appreciate how the emergency stretcher according to the invention allows both the recovery and transportation of an injured person by reducing his/her movements to a minimum, and ensuring a rigid and stable positioning.

[0070] Finally, those skilled in the art may appreciate how the emergency stretcher according to the invention has very small overall dimensions in the fully folded configuration, and can thus be easily transported and put away even in a narrow space, such as on board an ambulance, a helicopter, or craft, such as a water scooter.

[0071] To the embodiments described above of the emergency stretcher, those skilled in the art, aiming at satisfying contingent and specific requirements, may carry out a number of modifications, adaptations and replacements of elements with functionally equivalent ones, without however departing from the scope of the claims below.

Claims

1. An emergency stretcher (1) suitable for recovering and transporting an injured person, comprising a support structure (2) having an elongated shape in the longitudinal direction, which is suitable for supporting said injured person, and having two opposite ends (3, 4) in said longitudinal direction, characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of portions (6) intended to be sequentially arranged in said longitudinal direction;

- locking means suitable for rigidly connecting said portions (6) to each other such as to provide said elongated shape of the stretcher (1) ;

- release means suitable for releasing said locking means, such as to allow a relative movement between at least two of said portions (6) in order to reduce the longitudinal overall dimensions of the stretcher (1) .

2. The stretcher (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said release means comprise selective release means suitable to selectively release the connection between two adjacent portions (6) , respectively.

3. The stretcher (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the two opposite ends (3, 4) forms a thinned paddle-like portion (5) , such as to facilitate inserting the stretcher (1) via said end under the injured person.

4. The stretcher (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein each of the opposite ends (3, 4) of the support structure (2) forms a paddle-like portion (5) .

5. The stretcher (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said paddle-like portion (5) has an outwardly-tapered ramp profile in the longitudinal direction.

6. The stretcher (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said paddle-like portion (5) has a double bend in the longitudinal section thereof.

7. The stretcher (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein said portions (6) are in a number of four.

8. The stretcher (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein said portions (6) are pivotally connected to each other, such that the stretcher (1) can turn from an at least partially folded configuration to an at least partially expanded configuration.

9. The stretcher (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said portions (6) are hinged to each other about axes transversal to said longitudinal direction.

10. The stretcher (1) according to any preceding claim, comprising one or more releasable locking units (26) , each of which comprises:

- a locking member (17) supported by a first seat (16) that is formed in a first portion (60) of a pair of two adjacent portions (60, 600) , said locking member (17) being movable between a retracted position and an extended position;

- a handle (18) being connected to said locking member (17) for allowing the manual displacement of the same between said retracted and extended positions;

- a second seat (160) formed in a second portion (600) of said pair of two adjacent portions (60, 600) and suitable to be engaged by said locking member (17) in the extended position, such that said locking member (17) rigidly locks said two adjacent portions (60, 600) in the expanded configuration.

11. The stretcher (1) according to claim 10, wherein said handle (18) is further configured for transporting the stretcher (1) .

12. The stretcher (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said releasable locking unit (26) comprises guide means (21) imparting to the handle (18) :

- a first movement between a release position, in which said handle (18) places the locking member (17) in the retracted position thereof, and an engagement position, in which said handle (18) places the locking member (17) in the extended position thereof; and

- a second movement between a lowered position, which allows moving the adjacent portions (60, 600) towards each other in the folded configuration, and a raised position relative to the plane of the stretcher (1) which allows the latter to be easily lifted.

13. The stretcher (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said guide means (21) are configured such that said handle (18) , when it is stationary in the raised position, it is also locked in the engagement position, and only when it is stationary in the lowered position can be brought to the release position.

14. The stretcher (1) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said guide means (21) comprise grooves (210) being formed in the support structure (2) , which accommodate at least one base of said handles (18) , said grooves (210) comprising a first groove portion (211) imparting said first movement to said handle (18) and a second groove portion (212) imparting said second movement to said handle (18) .

15. The stretcher (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said grooves (210) are L-shaped, said first groove portion (211) being substantially parallel to said longitudinal direction of the stretcher (1) , and said second groove portion (212) being substantially orthogonal to said first groove portion (211) .

16. The stretcher (1) according to any claim 10 to 15, wherein said locking members (17) and said handles (18) are tubular bodies.

17. The stretcher (1) according to any preceding claim, comprising belts for locking said injured person on said support structure (2) .

18. The stretcher (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein said support structure (2) has a substantially rectangular shape, said rectangle being laterally defined by two longitudinal sides (7, 8) and transversally defined by said opposite paddle-like ends (3, 4) .

19. The stretcher (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein preferably tubular side reinforcement are formed along said longitudinal sides (7, 8), which define a patient seat (15) suitable for supporting said injured person.

20. The stretcher (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said first seat (16) and second seat (160) of the releasable locking units (26) are formed in said lateral reinforcements (13, 14).

21. The stretcher (1) according to any preceding claim, comprising one or more handlebars (22) that can be removably applied to said support structure (2) , which are suitable to facilitate the lifting and transportation of said stretcher (1) .

22. The stretcher (1) according to any preceding claim, comprising an upholstered structure (23) that can be removably applied to said support structure (2) such as to allow said stretcher (1) to slide on snow-covered grounds, and thermally insulating said injured person from said snow-covered ground.

23. The stretcher (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said upholstered structure (23) comprises one or more end skis (24) .

24. The stretcher (1) according to any preceding claim, comprising one or more floating cushions (25) that can be removably applied to said support structure (2) , and which are suitable to cause the stretcher (1) to float.