By Raul Angulo
One of my favorite episodes of Gilligan’s Island was the caveman dream sequence. Gilligan walks up to the Professor, who is chiseling something out of stone, and asks, “What are you making, Professor?”
He answers, “A wheel! Gilligan, this new invention will revolutionize civilization!” As he finishes the stone wheel, instead of rolling it, he flips it over on its side and groans in frustration, “Arrgh! Wheel not work!” Well, the Professor was right about the wheel. Along with the invention of the ladder and scissors, whose designs have lasted forever and are also essential tools in the fire service, the wheel remains one of the most essential components of modern society. Just look around your fire station and take note how many wheels exist as part of the station, the apparatus, and the equipment we use daily. The wheel is always being incorporated into some new creative and innovative design to make our lives easier.
1 The Terra Tamer rescue wheel is a 26- × 4.25-inch single sealed hub tire within a fork and frame saddle assembly. The rescue wheel serves as a fulcrum over the center of gravity and supports the weight of the litter. The load is equally balanced on both sides of the fulcrum. It requires minimal lifting by rescuers tending the litter. (Photos by author unless otherwise noted.)
The Terra Tamer rescue wheel and the Equalizer adjustable litter handle system are two relatively new pieces of equipment from Cascade Rescue Company, Sandpoint, Idaho. This company, by Harken, specializes in manufacturing high-angle rescue, technical rope rescue, and mountain rescue equipment. These two pieces of accessory equipment, combined with a rescue litter, allow for easily moving an injured packaged patient over rough wilderness terrain to a waiting ambulance vehicle or aircraft by two rescuers.
The Terra Tamer Rescue Wheel
The Terra Tamer rescue wheel, which looks a lot like a unicycle, is a giant obstacle-crushing 26- × 4.25-inch single wide tire within a fork and frame saddle assembly that attaches to the bottom of a rescue litter. Although it is designed specifically for the Cascade rescue litter, the Terra Tamer saddle can also be attached to most name-brand litters on the market as long as the top rail isn’t wrapped in plastic. The top rail tubing must be 1 inch in diameter or less and must be exposed so the hooks can grasp onto it. The sealed-hub wheel also features a disc brake system, with cable and handle, that clamps onto the top rail of the litter or the extended handles when Cascade’s Equalizer system is used. The brakes help control the descent of a patient-weighted litter on any terrain with a 35° slope or less.
2 The Equalizer comprises four precision adjustable handles specifically designed to work in conjunction with the Terra Tamer rescue wheel. Quick-release locking pins allow the handles to be adjusted in 24 different positions to accommodate different sized rescuers or to adjust for uneven rescuer height when ascending or descending steep slopes.
The rescue wheel and fork and the saddle comprise a two-piece system that is assembled or disassembled with four easy-to-remove locking pins. This allows the Terra Tamer to be stored on the apparatus or carried in a transport pack. It also allows the rescue litter to be moved using other traditional transport methods without the rescue wheel being attached. For example, the rescue wheel would not be needed with aerial operations. Or, if the litter were needed as a sled, you wouldn’t want the saddle attached underneath the litter because it would not be able to slide over or against rocky, uneven surfaces.
In scenarios where the Terra Tamer is going to be used right off the bat, turn the litter upside down and attach the saddle bracket to the bottom of the litter. It is positioned at the center of gravity or where the patient’s lower torso mass will rest in the litter. Release the four straps and hook them to the top rail. The ratchets tighten the straps, locking the saddle in place. It is similar to attaching a luggage rack to the top of your car. Turn the litter right side up and lift it up horizontally to attach the fork and wheel. Insert the fork and wheel unit into the saddle’s four receiving posts and secure it by inserting the locking pins. The brake cable is always attached to the wheel, so the handle simply needs to be connected to the top rail closest to the head of the litter. That’s it. You can begin to move the patient. If the patient is already packaged in the litter before attaching the rescue wheel, simply put the feet side of the litter down on the ground and lift the head side up 45 to 60 degrees. This exposes the underside of the litter so the saddle and fork can be attached in the same manner. A well-trained crew of three can attach the Terra Tamer rescue wheel in less than a minute.
3 The Equalizer handles attach to the head and foot corners of the litter and extend horizontally approximately 32 inches. This provides litter bearers with more room to work away from the edge of the litter, providing better footing, balance, and maneuvering while still maintaining patient control.
The rescue wheel, which serves as a fulcrum over the center of gravity, supports the weight of the litter. The load and effort are equally balanced on both sides of the fulcrum. The litter requires minimal lifting by rescuers tending the litter. Rescuers maneuver the system by pulling and pushing while tilting and shifting the weight. Litter bearers lift only enough to take the weight off the rescue wheel so it can roll over obstacles and rough terrain, such as over logs and boulders. Using the laws of physics to work smarter and not harder greatly reduces firefighter fatigue and injury during litter rescue operations in rough and steep terrain.
The Equalizer Adjustable Litter Handle System
We are all familiar with normal litter-bearing operations. Rescuers need to grasp or clip onto the top rail. The bodies and legs of the rescuers are often too close to the litter. Hand positioning can be awkward, and short strides are often needed because the litter constantly bumps into rescuers’ legs. It is difficult to get a team of four or six litter bearers to walk and stride in unison, especially when climbing or descending steep terrain. It always seems like an awkward evolution, and all it takes is for one person to slip and fall to stall the operation.
4 Since the rescue wheel supports the litter’s weight, it allows rescuers to use the handles to apply upward and downward pressure on the litter, which balances the weight and increases maneuverability while reducing the effort required. This allows for two-person-carry-out patient removal with relative ease and speed. [Photo courtesy of Teton County (WY) SAR.]
The Equalizer comprises four precision adjustable handles specifically designed for Cascade rescue litters but that can also be attached to many other name-brand litters on the market. They are designed to work in conjunction with the Terra Tamer rescue wheel. They attach to the head and foot corners of the litter and extend horizontally approximately 32 inches. This provides litter bearers with much more room to work away from the edges of the litter, which allows better footing, balance, and maneuvering while still maintaining control of the patient. Since the weight of the litter is supported by the rescue wheel (and not the Equalizer handles), rescuers can use the handles to apply upward and downward pressure on the litter, which increases maneuverability while reducing rescuer effort. The handles also allow weight balance to easily shift back and forth, which allows for two-person carry-out patient removal with relative ease. The extended handles allow for better control on rocky descents and require less physical rescuer effort on difficult uphill slopes. It’s more a matter of pushing and pulling instead of lifting and carrying. When using the Equalizer system, the rescue wheel’s brake lever attaches to one of the head side handles to control the descent.
Quick-release locking pins allow the handles to be adjusted in 24 different positions. This is extremely beneficial to accommodate different size rescuers or to adjust for uneven rescuer height when ascending or descending steep slopes. The handles can even be adjusted straight down to a sawhorse position, supporting the entire weight of the litter off the ground just like an elevated bed. This would be beneficial when teams need to rest or switch out. It can also be useful to keep the patient level above water or snow while waiting at the landing zone for a helicopter to arrive.
Quick Specs
The Terra Tamer rescue wheel is made of 100% titanium and weighs 15.4 pounds. It measures 32 inches tall and 29 inches wide. The base/saddle dimensions are 18.5 × 17.5 inches.
The Equalizer adjustable handles come in titanium (7.35 pounds) or stainless steel (10 pounds). Both systems comply with National Fire Protection 1983, Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services (2017ed.).
Other Uses
In addition to back country rescue, these systems have practical use in urban areas as well as on the fireground. Currently the FDNY is testing these two systems as part of their equipment cache for subway incidents, both for EMS and for fire. They need a system that is efficient and effective for transporting equipment down into the subway and into the tunnels. They also need a system to quickly move patients through the tunnel, over the tracks, and back up to street level without overly taxing rescue personnel. The wheels on regular gurneys are too small and not designed for subway rescue incidents.
Wildland firefighting organizations are also using these two systems for their Rapid Extrication Module Support (REMS) teams. REMS is a prestaged rescue team assigned to a wildland fire to provide firefighters with a safe, effective, and efficient method of egress off the fire line in the event of an injury or illness incurred during firefighting operations.
In the same manner, the Terra Tamer rescue wheel with a litter can be used to carry equipment in high-rise firefighting as well as for rescue operations and for rapid intervention teams (RITs) at structure fires. Often, a ladder company is assigned as the RIT. A lot of equipment needs to be carried to the forward staging area as quickly as possible to set up. It is natural to load a Stokes litter with chain saws, rescue saws, and other forcible entry equipment, including extra self-contained breathing apparatus air cylinders, to make a single trip. But, try lifting that fully loaded litter and walking two blocks. No way! It’s heavy—even for a crew of four. Teams are starting to use carts and wheels that are often jerry-rigged to fit the litter. The Terra Tamer is the perfect solution. Plus, if rescuers need to transport a down firefighter over a partial collapse zone, severe terrain, up and down inclines, and over several lengths of charged fire hoses to reach the waiting ambulance, isn’t it better to use a tool that was designed for such conditions? It’s quite amazing to see this simple solution in action. It is incredibly fast compared with many techniques and methods typically used now. And after 38 years of being a line firefighter, I’m always interested in equipment methods that save your back!
RAUL ANGULO is a captain (ret.) of Seattle (WA) Fire Department Ladder Co. 6. He has more than 40 years of fire service experience and is on the Editorial Advisory Board of Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment. He is the author of the new textbook Engine Company Fireground Operations 4th Edition (Jones and Bartlett) and has been teaching at FDIC International since 1996.
