Rescue Me…Israel Style

“The IPC is made of high-tensile military strength webbing or seatbelt material, and it folds into an accordion shape so it's small enough to throw in a camping bag,” says Agilite founder Elie Isaacson. “It has built-in padding and it's sewn together in Delaware by the same people who make the harnesses for the US Air Force's V22 and C5 Aircraft.”

Search-and-rescue teams, hikers and emergency medical responders are among the eager markets for this Israeli-innovated advancement over the stretcher [developed because of a request by the Israeli army for a hands-free method of evacuating wounded soldiers].

“If you have a natural disaster with mass casualties, you don't have a helicopter and an ambulance for every casualty,” Isaacson explains to ISRAEL21c. “You will have to evacuate people who are wounded, and maybe carry them long distances. An ordinary person can take heavy weight on his back if it's positioned correctly.”

Many rescuers are trained to use the “fireman's carry,” putting the injured person across their shoulders. But that technique is uncomfortable and doesn't free the rescuer's hands. “If you are stuck in a ravine or a confined space, having the ability to use your hands to crawl out with the injured person on your back, with hands free to climb, is a huge step forward,” Isaacson points out.

The IPC has a fluorescent strip for greater visibility at night, and it's adjustable to the size of the person being rescued. Mainly it has been marketed in the United States to law-enforcement, firefighting, emergency rescue and military personnel, as well as camping stores. Click here for more information.