I've been in scouts quite a while (almost Eagle!) and I've encountered several situations in which a friend - or a stranger - has been hurt in the leg and needs to be moved. I've been searching for the best way to transport someone over fairly long distances (400-500 yards, or more) without irritating a broken leg, foot, or ankle, or a bad blister, sprain etc.
Basically back to camp from wherever we happen to be. We always travel in groups of at least 4, so if the victim is moving there will be at least two people with him.
The most recent example was at summer camp: One of the guys neglected to wear socks to a troop game of Ultimate and played through a nasty blister from his sandles. It popped and continued to rub on the skin underneath. It got to the point where he could barely walk, and stumbled in pain instead when he put pressure on that foot. After some friendly chastising of his neglect, me and another senior scout put each of his arms around our shoulders. We tried to take as much weight off of his legs as possible, but it was still a long 500 yards back to camp, for all three of us. (we had left our 1st aid kits there, and it was a more sterile environment)
Outside of the more preventable aspects of this example, it got me thinking about the best way to carry someone with an injured leg.
-Many guys are a bit heavy for the over-the-shoulder carry, and it can be a bit unstable
-The fireman carry leaves a slightly taller person's feet dragging on the ground - not good for any leg injury
-We've tried the four-handed seat carry, but in general everybody's hands and arms get way too sweaty and slippery (between being outside and carrying a guy) to keep grip, and we often have to set the person down and reset. It's also a little harder to walk that way.
So this is my question, up for debate and discussion: What is the best long distance one-man or two-man carry for a person with an injured leg?
All replies and responses are welcome and helpful
Be prepared,
Jimbo
