MEDICAL RUCKSACK

The rucksack is an essential part of the doctor's safety, it must contain all the gear required for his autonomy: helmet, crampons, ice axe, insulating clothing, gloves... But above all, it is a medical bag which must hold all the necessary equipment for the medical manoeuvers performed at the scene. Several bags have been tested during the last 15 years. None combined the qualities of a true montain backpack and the ergonomics of a medical bag. So we decided to designed one with the LAFUMA company.

The environmental conditions are: altitude, cold, rock abrasion, risk (stone and ice falls, avalanches...). The necessities related to the means of transport are the overall dimensions and the weight of the bag (helicopter in 95% of the cases, 5% on foot) .

The specification imposed:

1. Easy access to the safety equipment (ice axe, crampons, helmet).
2. Separation between the medical part and the mountain part (the bag can be divided into 2 packs).
3. Easy and rapid opening for the two compartments (zip-flap openings).
4. Comfortable porterage, easy winch operations (handles).
5. Arrangement of the medical equipment in four easily identifiable pockets.
6. Easy access to the diagnostic devices (sphygmomanometer, pulse oxymeter, cardioscope, stethoscope, epitympanic thermometer) in the lower compartment.
7. Ajustability, so that the doctor can adapt it to his frame.
8. Identification panel which indicates the doctor's location.
9. Sturdiness.

This bag is complemented by a waist pouch containing catheters, analgesics and sedatives.

CHARACTERISTICS

• Medical part: 60x33x18 cm ; 3,570 kg. Capacity around 30 litres.
  • Strengthened ergonomic back, zip-flap opening, four coloured pockets (intubation, perfusion, medication, dressing) attached by velcros and linked to the bag by a strap. Easily accessible lower compartment which contains all the diagnostic devices. Special pocket for the radio and different handles for winching. Luminescent "MEDECIN" panel. Straps to reduce the overall dimensions and gussets to increase the capacity if necessary.
• Montain part : 60x31x15 cm ; 1,1kg. Capacity from 15 to 30 litres.
  • Retractable braces and abdominal strap, ties for skis and ice axe, zip-flap opening, three compartments, rapid access to the helmet and the crampons, mesh pockets, luminescent "MEDECIN" panel, handles for winching.
• Waist pouch : 12x35x15 ; 0.5 kg. Capacity 1,3 litres.
  • Used to carry a first aid equipement: catheters, analgesics, sedatives, little dressings.

One of its main qualities is its modularity (separation in two parts). This feature allows a shared medical part and a personalized mountain equipement part. Adapted to the dangerous environment, it can also be used in every extra-hospital emergencies.

LAFUMA. PO BOX 60, 26140 Anneyron FRANCE. Tel +33 (0)4.75.31.31.31. Fax +33 (0)4.75.31.57.26.

(c) DMTM CHAMONIX 1998

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