o. Place Casualty on Litter. Once the traction splint has been applied, the
casualty is moved to the litter using the procedures given in paragraph 3-4.
CAUTION:
Once the traction strap has been applied, do not release the traction.
Traction should only be released by a medical officer. If the strap
becomes loose, have the traction assistant administer manual traction;
then tighten and secure the strap again.
p. Support the Lower Limb. Position yourself next to the casualty's injured leg
at the tibial area. Place both hands under the casualty's thigh, one above the fracture
site and one below the fracture site. Manually support and stabilize the injured limb to
prevent any movement at the fracture site. Continue providing support and stabilization
as the traction assistant applies the ankle hitch and splint.
3-4.
PLACE A CASUALTY WITH A TRACTION SPLINT ON A LITTER (LITTER
BAR)
After the traction splint has been applied, attach the litter bar to the litter, place
the casualty onto the litter, and secure the stirrup to the litter bar.
a. Attach Litter Bar. The litter bar attaches to the litter poles at the foot end of
the litter. The litter bar locks the bottom of the splint support (stirrup of the Hare splint)
in position. This helps to keep the leg immobile when the casualty is moved (carried by
a litter team or placed in an evacuation vehicle).
(1) Place the litter bar on the litter poles at the end of the canvas bed of the
litter. This position will keep the litter bar from interfering with the litter handles when
carrying the litter or locking the litter in place in an evacuation vehicle.
(a) The strap attached to the bar should be free to go under the litter.
(b) The groove of the bar should be up.
(c) The locking cam on one side of the bar should be on the same side
of the litter as the traction splint will be when the casualty is placed on the litter.
(d) Make sure the cam is in the open (unlocked) position.
(2)
Pass the strap beneath the litter to the other side of the litter bar.
(3) Secure the litter bar by fastening the buckle at the end of the strap into
the end of the litter bar and tightening the strap if needed.
MD0533
3-8