In carrying a patient on a stretcher be careful that he is made quite comfortable before you start. Let both bearers rise together; they must walk out of step, and take short paces. It should be the duty of the hinder bearer to keep a careful watch on the patient.
If the poles are short four bearers will be necessary, one at each corner of the stretcher.
[Practice these different methods.]
How to Practise
In practising First Aid it is a great thing to bespatter the patient with blood and mud to accustom the rescuer to the sight of it, otherwise it will often unnerve him in a real accident. Sheep’s blood can be got from the butcher’s shop.
Prepare a heavy smoke fire in a neighbouring room or building (if possible on the first floor), while you are lecturing in the club room. Secretly arrange with two or three Scouts that if an alarm of fire is given they should run about frightened and try and start a panic.
Have the alarm given either by getting some one to rush in and tell you of the fire, or by having some explosive bombs fired. Then let a patrol, or two patrols, tackle the fire under direction of their patrol leaders. They should shut windows and doors. Send Scouts into different parts of the building to see if the fire is spreading, and to search for people in need of rescue.
These Scouts should have wet handkerchiefs over their mouths and noses. “Insensible” people (or sack dummies) should be hidden under tables, etc.
Scouts rescue them by shouldering or dragging them out and getting them down to the ground. Use jumping sheet, chute, etc.
Other parties lay and connect the hose, or make lines for passing fire buckets.