Stokes Baskets, Backboards, Foldable Stretchers, Search and Rescue Gear

What is a Stokes Basket?

A Stokes basket is the general name for a specific type of rescue stretcher or litter which offers full body protection when used in rescue situations. With its heavy-duty construction, a Stokes rescue litter can be carried, wheeled, dragged, mounted on an ATV, towed behind skies, horse or snowmobile, hoisted by a helicopter or lifted and lowered on high angles with ropes without shifting or affecting the patient’s well-being.

Where or When is a Stokes Basket Used?

Stokes rescue litters are used to carry and remove a patient in almost any rescue situation. Constructed with heavy-duty materials, it is used to transport patients from remote locations and over harsh environments such as rough and muddy terrain, snow covered fields, or hoisted up by helicopters during water and mountain rescues. Rescue litters can also be used to transport victims down from steep angled places such as sides of buildings or mountains when using a rope-and-pulley system. Stokes baskets are also ideal in rescue situations such as disaster sites, quarries, mines, building sites, and transporting sports injury victims. When used for water recovery or water surface rescue, the litter is equipped with floats, and when used in mountain rescues, the Stokes litter is equipped with a cover to protect the patient from falling rocks.

Stokes litters are also often used in confined spaces such as inside a cave network or by the U.S. Navy to transport patients through narrow ship corridors and doorways.

Who Uses Rescue Stretchers?

Rescue stretchers are used worldwide by the military, government, and civilian trained professional emergency workers and teams. Military medical corpsmen often will use rescue stretchers in battle areas. The Coast Guard will use them during sea rescues and Mountain Rescue Ski Teams will sled accident patients down from ski slopes or mountain crevices. Firefighter Rapid Intervention Teams or Hazardous Material Teams will also use rescue stretchers in specific emergency situations.

Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Co-Founder & CEO

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