Focus on - - - The New Club Stretchers
By Ken Dobbs
It was decided at a committee meeting held a couple of years
back that a stretcher should be included in the club tackle. This stretcher would have to be suitable for
cave rescue of Mendip. Many existing
types were discussed at length, but none of the known types seem to fill our
requirements, if it was strong enough, it was too rigid, and rigid stretchers
dont go round corners easily; and so on & so forth; committee meeting
followed committee meeting, and the question was discussed, chewed over,
deferred till the next meeting, as only a B.E.C. Committee can, until it became
obvious we should have to produce something ourselves if we were to incorporate
something of all our ideas.
Firstly we approached Joseph Bryant & Co. with the idea
that we could get our plans transferred to something practical, but although
they were most helpful the initial cost was much higher than we had expected so
therere was nothing else for it if we wanted a stretcher we should have to
produce it ourselves. There followed
further months of discussion regarding materials etc. Finally a length of canvas was produced and
the sewing started; altogether there was about 50 hours of it on the face of
it perhaps it doesnt sound much, buy anyone who has tried sewing canvas to
rope and leather by hand will know that theres more to it than that.
Then yet another hold up occurred. It became obvious as the stretcher neared
completion that lifting up drop of perhaps 70 feet would not altogether be safe
if the lift was to be taken on the side handling ropes. The only way round this snag was to take a
direct lift from the occupant of the stretcher, and undoubtedly this would be
best accomplished with a parachute harness. As the main users of such harnesses, the R.A.F. were contacted, and were
helpful in putting us in contact with a firm dealing in such contrivances. After more delay the long awaited harness
arrived and was duly fitted.
Half way through August the first tests were carried out at
Redcliffe Community Centre. These were
for handling only and went quite well. The following Sunday further tests were carried out on Mendip and
handling tests were successfully on rough ground near the Belfry. As the earlier test had been o.k. it was
decided to press straight on with underground tests in Bog Hole. Bog was chosen because of its convenience and
also because it supplies the worst possible rescue condition i.e. a tight cave
with and extremely low roof. The only
person to be mentioned in connection with these tests is Pat Ifold who
volunteered to be the guinea-pig for our first underground tests, a most
unpleasant job. To move the stretcher
and its tenant 36 feet took 45 minutes and a team of 4 were just the flakers
in that time. Unfortunately during these
tests the canvas showed signs of giving around the handholds, and would
certainly not stand prolonged use. Apart
from the weakness of the canvas the design had been a success and a good deal
has been learned about the underground handling already. The damage to the canvas was such that the
stretcher would require complete rebuilding and this was more than anyone was
prepared to take on, Joseph Bryants were again contacted and thee experimental
work being already done a lower figure than the original one was quoted and
accepted.
The stretcher is now complete and it is to be kept at the Belfry. It is hoped that it will never have to be used.
K.C.D.O