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Learning to carry someone larger than yourself can be surprisingly simple when employing proper body mechanics. While historically known as the fireman's carry, this method finds more frequent application among wrestlers and martial artists. In preparation for emergencies, it's essential to familiarize oneself with dragging techniques, particularly for the safe handling of injured individuals.
Procedures
Supporting a Comrade
Take Your Position. Have your companion stand beside you, facing your right shoulder. Utilizing the 'fireman's carry' technique will facilitate the process significantly.
Position your right leg between their feet. Shift your right leg to rest between your friend's feet, ensuring it bears more weight to provide stable support.
Guide your friend's right arm behind your neck. Extend your left hand across your chest to grasp your friend's right wrist or forearm. Lift their arm over your head, bending forward to position it across your neck and shoulders. Maintain a secure grip on their arm throughout the maneuver.
Lower your right arm to their right knee. Gently retract your right arm from their person. Squat slightly while maintaining a straight back to bear the weight effectively. As you reach their legs, insert your right arm between their knees, gripping the back and side of their right knee securely.
Elevate them onto your shoulders. Securely grasp their right forearm and the back of their right knee. Utilize these holds to raise them onto your shoulders. Ensure their positioning: legs hanging in front of your right shoulder with one knee firmly gripped, torso aligned across your shoulders, and their right arm extended in front.
Rise to a standing position. Lift using your legs and hips, maintaining a straight back and a slight forward bend to support your friend safely. Adjust their position as necessary to distribute their weight evenly.
Adjust your friend's arm position. Shift your friend's right arm across your chest. Release their knee with your other hand and encircle their leg with your arm. Secure your friend's right arm with your right hand, leaving your left hand available for balance while walking.
Emergency Moving Techniques
Extracting someone from a vehicle. Whenever possible, leave a potentially injured individual undisturbed, as moving them can exacerbate injuries. However, if immediate relocation is necessary due to imminent danger such as fire, adhere to these guidelines:
- Clear the victim's legs from the car pedals.
- Position the victim with her back towards the open car door.
- Secure your arms beneath her armpits and in front of her chest.
- Transfer the victim to a safe area, ensuring head support with your body.
- If the victim's legs or feet become entangled, gently lower her to the ground, manually free her legs, then proceed with dragging.
Utilize leg dragging. On smooth ground with no apparent leg injuries, employ this method to relocate the victim away from danger. Assume a low crouched position and grasp the patient's ankles. Lean back to utilize your body weight as leverage for dragging, facilitating the movement of individuals heavier than yourself.
- To minimize personal injury risk, avoid extending your arms beyond 15–20 inches (38–51cm). Gradually retract your arms backward, readjust, then resume pulling.
- Some first aid organizations discourage this technique due to potential head dragging on the ground. Consequently, avoid using it on uneven terrain.
Shoulder dragging method. Position yourself beside the victim's head. Grasp the victim's clothing beneath the shoulders, providing head support with your arm. Initiate backward dragging.
- Alternatively, raise the victim's arms above her head. Grip her elbows, pressing them against her head for support. Opt for this approach if the victim's attire is torn or weak.
Reserve carrying for absolute necessity. Carrying someone should be a last resort during emergencies, as it can exacerbate injuries or expose the individual to smoke inhalation in fire situations. Only resort to carrying when immediate movement is imperative and dragging is unfeasible.
- If the individual is unconscious, lifting her into a standing position requires significant strength. Begin by rolling her onto her stomach. Kneel near her head, place both arms under her armpits, and lift her back up, maintaining straight backs by pushing with your legs.
- Once the individual is standing, follow the instructions outlined for 'carrying a friend.'
- Alternatively, consider a 'piggyback ride,' crossing the individual's arms in front of your chest and supporting her weight on your hips. While potentially safer for injured individuals, this method is still less than ideal.
Helpful Hints
- For injury prevention, initially practice with smaller individuals or children. Gradually progress to heavier individuals as you become accustomed to the technique. However, exercise caution, as excessively light individuals may unexpectedly soar over your head!
Precautions
- Employ proper lifting techniques, utilizing your legs and core rather than your back. Lifting with your back increases the risk of injury.
- If either party has a history of serious injuries or back issues, seek professional advice beforehand. Avoid attempting these maneuvers if either individual is injured, except in emergency situations.
