WATER RESCUE DEVICE FOR PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE INJURIES

Abstract

 The invention relates to a new equipment of water media rescue, facilitating the works for rescue and immobilisation of a multiple injured patient in an aquatic environment, such that the risk of worsening the injuries, specially in case of spinal cord injuries, is minimized. This equipment of water rescue, allows for the rescued person to be directly positioned on the spinal board from the beginning of the rescue operation, thus preventing the person from being transferred to a different board upon introduction in an ambulance at the end of the rescue. The rescue equipment of the invention includes the stretcher having the spinal board fixed thereto within the corresponding cavity. The spinal board fits flush within said cavity or recessed zone of the upper surface of the stretcher, the spinal board being coupled to the stretcher by the coupling means. A compact combination is rendered that the rescuer can normally use for rowing towards the place where the person to be rescued is located.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of rescue of multiple injured patients in aquatic environments such as beaches, reservoirs, or rivers.

[0002] The object of the present invention is a new equipment facilitating the rescue and immobilisation of a multiple injured patient in an aquatic environment, such that the risk of worsening the injuries, specially in case of spinal cord injuries, is minimized.

PRIOR ART

[0003] Rescuing a multiple injured person from an aquatic environment, specially one having a spinal cord injury, is extremely complicated due to the risk of worsening the injury. In these rescue procedures, the rescuer must not only rescue the person in risk of drowning and carry him/her to a safe place on dry land, but he/she must do so while attempting to move the person as little as possible. In this context, there are two main drawbacks: firstly, the continuous movement of the aquatic means, especiallyin the sea, complicates the task of immobilising the rescued person during the time period while he/she is towed to dry land; secondly, once on dry land, the rescued person must be transferred from the element used for the rescue, e.g., a water rescue board, to the stretcher of an ambulance or the like, this process entailing additional movements. This process may have fatal consequences for the person having a spinal cord injury, in the worst cases causing spinal cord paralysis.

[0004] The water rescue equipment used nowadays do not have any means or device intended for solving these problems. The known equipment mainly consists of a rescue board made of a floating material where the person to be rescued is placed, where the board is configured for being towed by the rescuer or by means of a jet ski or other mechanical means. Currently known rescue boards do not have any means suitable for immobilising a person having a spinal cord injury during transport or during transfer to an ambulance or the like.

[0005] Therefore, the still exist in this field a need for a particularly designed equipment for rescuing people having a spinal cord injury.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention solves the aforementioned problems by means of a new water rescue equipment that is particularly designed for immobilising the patient during the rescue, including both the transport of the rescued person to dry land and the transfer of the person to an ambulance.

[0007] In the present document, terms "upper", "superior", "inferior", "lower" and the like refer to positions defined according to a vertical direction in the geometrical sense of the term.

[0008] In this document, terms "head' and "foot' refer to positions along the equipment of the invention situated, respectively, closer to the end of the stretcher or spinal board designed for receiving the head of a person being rescued or closer to the end of the stretcher or spinal board designed for receiving the feet of the person being rescued.

[0009] In this document, the term "longitudinal" refers to the direction of the main axis of the stretcher or spinal board corresponding to the largest dimension thereof. Correspondingly, the term "transversal' refers to a direction of an axis of the stretcher corresponding to the closest dimension, which is perpendicular to the main axis disclosed above.

[0010] In this document, the aquatic means referred to are the sea. However, it must be understood that the equipment of the present invention can be used in any other aquatic means, such as e.g., in lakes, reservoirs, rivers, swimming pools, etc. Therefore, any reference to the waves or to the condition of the sea refers generally to the condition of the water in the lake, reservoir, river, swimming pool, etc.

[0011] The present invention is directed to a water rescue team for multiple injured patients comprising mainly the following elements: a rescue stretcher; a spinal board, and coupling means between the stretcher and the board. Now, these elements are disclosed in detail.

a)Rescue stretcher

[0012] It is a flat rescue stretcher having an essentially rectangular shape delimited by a head edge, a foot edge, and two lateral edges. The lateral edges correspond to the long sides of the rectangle, while the head and foot edges correspond to the short sides of the rectangle. This stretcher has an upper surface designed for receiving a rescued person comprising a central, essentially rectangular flat cavity recessed with respect to said rescue surface and open towards the foot edge of said stretcher.

[0013] That is, the cavity of the upper surface of the stretcher has a parallelepipedal volume delimited by three vertical walls at the head and lateral sides, but open at the side corresponding to the foot side of the stretcher. As disclosed in more detail further down below, this open side will allow for the introduction of the spinal board in those cases where said board slides on rails. Further, the depth of the cavity with respect to the upper surface of the stretcher is small, for example of about 3-5 cm, since it essentially corresponds to the thickness of the spinal board.

b)Spinal board

[0014] It is a flat, essentially rectangular spinal board fitting within the central cavity of the rescue surface of the stretcher, such that the spinal board is essentially flush with said rescue surface.

[0015] Th spinal board longitudinal and transversal dimensions are just slightly smaller than the corresponding dimensions of the central cavity of the stretcher so that, when introduced therein, only a thin gap separate the walls of the cavity from the edges of the spinal board. Further, the thickness of the spinal board essentially matches the depth of the central cavity of the stretcher. Therefore, when the spinal board is completely introduced within the cavity of the stretcher, the upper surface of the combination of stretcher-board making up the equipment of the invention is essentially flat, thereby being used as if it was a one-piece rescue board. Only when necessary, the spinal board can be extracted for immobilising a patient having a spinal cord injury.

[0016] Furthermore, even if the spinal board is extracted from the stretcher, the base of the cavity of the stretcher is essentially flat and large enough for the stretcher to still be employed as a rescue board when no spinal board is present.

c)Coupling means

[0017] The coupling means are configured for coupling the spinal board to the stretcher when the board is housed within the cavity of said stretcher. The specific configuration of the coupling means will be described in detail further down in the present document.

[0018] This new aquatic rescue equipment allows for the rescued person to be directly positioned on the spinal board from the beginning of the rescue operation, thus preventing the person from being transferred to a different board upon introduction in an ambulance at the end of the rescue. Indeed, initially the rescue equipment of the invention includes the stretcher having the spinal board fixed thereto within the corresponding cavity. As mentioned before, the spinal board fits flush within said cavity or recessed zone of the upper surface of the stretcher, the spinal board being coupled to the stretcher by the coupling means. Therefore, a compact combination is rendered that the rescuer can normally use for rowing towards the place where the person to be rescued is located. Thereafter, the rescuer puts the person to be rescued on the spinal board coupled to the stretcher, and tows the equipment to dry land or to a rescue boat. Finally, the rescuer actuates the coupling means for decoupling the spinal board from the stretcher. The rescued person can be transported in ambulance to the hospital on said spinal board, thereby preventing the need to transfer him/her to a different board or the like.

[0019] In principle, the spinal board can be installed inside the cavity of the stretcher in any suitable manner. For example, it can simply be placed on the base of the cavity by lowering it vertically until it fits therein. However, to ensure a controlled introduction, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention a rail system is used where the board is introduced in the cavity of the stretcher in a longitudinal direction from the foot edge of the stretcher where the open side of the cavity is located. Specifically, in this embodiment of the invention a lower surface of the spinal board comprises longitudinal rails, and the base of the central cavity of the stretcher comprises longitudinal channels opening towards the foot edge of the stretcher. The channels of the stretcher slidably receive the rails of the spinal board, thereby guiding it until it is completely introduced in the cavity of the stretcher.

[0020] This configuration is advantageous in that a controlled extraction of the spinal board from the cavity of the stretcher is ensured. This is particularly important when the rescued person lies on the spinal board and said spinal board must be transferred to dry land or to a rescue boat during bad sea conditions or in a storm.

[0021] In principle, the coupling means may have several different designs provided they allow for coupling the spinal board to the rescue stretcher, as well as uncoupling the spinal board from the rescue stretcher in a fast and simple manner. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the coupling means comprise:

• First orifices in the cavity of the stretcher
  They are vertical axis first orifices provided at the base of the cavity of the stretcher. For example, they can be four orifices provided in twos in positions near the lateral walls making up the boundary of the central cavity.
• Rods
  The rods are configured for alternating between an interior position with respect to said first orifices and an exterior position with respect to said first orifices. The introduction and extraction of the rods can be carried out, for example, aided by a spring pushing the rods towards the exterior position, such that a first push on the rods causes them to enter in the corresponding first orifice and couples them in said interior position, and a second push on the rods causes them to uncouple and to exit towards the exterior position biased by the spring.
  The rods in this preferred embodiment comprise an upper end having a fixation projection. In this context, the fixation projection refers to any protuberance or projection that projects from the rods in a radial direction. For example, the rods may have an essentially inverted L shape, where the foot of the L is the fixation projection. Thanks to this configuration, when a rod is in the interior position, the shaft of the L is within the corresponding first orifice and the foot of the L projects therefrom in a horizontal direction. When a rod is in the exterior position, a substantial portion of the shaft of the L projects vertically from the first orifice.
  Further, the rods are rotative around the vertical axis. This allows for changing the orientation of the fixation projection for coupling and uncoupling the spinal board to the stretcher as disclose in detail further down in the present document.
• Second orifices in the spinal board
  The second orifices are provided in the spinal board in a position that is coincident with the position of the first orifices provided in the stretcher when the spinal board is completely introduced in the cavity of the stretcher. That is, the second orifices of the spinal board are positioned such that, when the board is completely introduced in the cavity, they are coaxial with the first orifices of the stretcher. Following with the above example, the second orifices may be provided also in twos in positions near the lateral edges of the spinal board.
  The second orifices are configured such that they only allow for the upper end of the rods to pass through in a particular angular opening position. Therefor, the second orifices may have an elongated shape, for example an essentially rectangular shape. Thus, when the protrusion of the rods is aligned with the longest direction of the corresponding elongated second orifice, the upper end of the rod having the corresponding projection can pass through said second orifice. However, when the projection of the rods is not aligned with the longest direction of the corresponding elongated second orifice, the upper end of the rod having the corresponding projection cannot pass through said second orifice.

[0022] Thanks to this configuration, when the spinal board is completely introduced in the cavity of the stretcher, the rods in said angular opening position can be displaced to the exterior position by going through the second orifices. Thereafter, they can be turned around the vertical axis towards a rotational position different from the opening angular position, such that the fixation protrusions are blocked against the edge of the second orifices thereby preventing any spinal board movement.

[0023] The use of said coupling means is advantageous in that fast coupling and uncoupling between the spinal board and the rescue stretcher can be carried out. The very fast uncoupling operation is particularly important, since it must usually be carried out with the rescued person lying on the spinal board and possibly in bad sea conditions, such as in a storm. The rescue operation starts from an initial situation where the spinal board is coupled to the stretcher, and therefore the rods are in the exterior position, passing through the second orifices of the spinal board, and rotated in a position that is different from the opening angular position. In this situation, the rescuer needs only to manually rotate the rods by grabbing them from the respective fixation protrusions, moving them towards the opening angular position. Thereafter, he/she pushes downwards on the upper end of the rods, exceeding the opposite force of the spring and anchoring them in the interior position. The spinal board is thus uncoupled from the stretcher and can therefore be separated therefrom. In case coupling rails with the stretcher are present, the rescuer simply pulls from the spinal board in a longitudinal direction towards the foot side of the stretcher until it comes out completely.

[0024] According to a particularly preferred of the invention, the side of the cavity that is open towards the foot edge of the stretcher comprises a downwardly inclined plane from the base of the cavity towards a lower surface of the stretcher.

[0025] The provision of such an inclined plane is advantageous in that raising a rescued person in a case where the rescue stretcher has no spinal board fixed thereto is made easier. Further, it allows for water trapped in the cavity of the stretcher to come out. On the other side, it can also aid in guiding the rails of the spinal board during an introduction manoeuvre in the corresponding channels provided on the base of the cavity under bad sea conditions.

[0026] In another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the spinal board comprises a cervical immobiliser. More preferably, the cervical immobiliser is folded within a watertight compartment having a lid situated in a head portion of said spinal board.

[0027] This feature is very advantageous because, along with the spinal board,a cervical immobiliser is always transported in case it becomes necessary. While not in use, the upper surface of the lid of the watertight compartment is flush with the rest of the upper surface of the spinal board, thereby allowing for the equipment of the invention to be user as a conventional rescue board. When necessary, the rescuer needs only to extract the cervical immobiliser from the watertight compartment, unfold it, and coupling thereto the head of the rescued person.

[0028] In principle, the cervical immobiliser can be designed in different ways as long as it can be folded within the watertight compartment of the spinal board and as long as it can be unfolded in a fast and simple manner. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the cervical immobiliser comprises the following elements: first and second lateral support plates; and at least an extendible coupling rod between the plates. Now, these elements are disclosed in more detail.

• Lateral support plates
  They comprise a first and a second lateral support plates having a lower edge configured to be coupled to the bottom of the watertight compartment in a vertical position in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spinal board at either side of said longitudinal axis. The lateral support plates are intended to lie at either side of the head of the rescued person to immobilise it.
  Normally, the plates can adopt an essentially square or rectangular shape, and they are fixed such that they are contained in a vertical plane in parallel to the longitudinal axis in two positions situated at either side of the longitudinal axis of the spinal board and separated a distance that is slightly larger than the width dimensions of a human head. That is, the distance between the two lateral support plates, once fixed to the bottom of the compartment, could be of about approximately 25 cm and 40 cm (that is, the distance from the longitudinal axis of the spinal board is between 12,5 cm and 20 cm).
  The lower edge may be configured in any manner provided it allows for these plates to be coupled to the bottom of the watertight compartment. For example, the coupling can be carried out through fixation means formed by a first element provided at the lower edge of the plates and a second element provided at the bottom of the watertight compartment. More specifically, the bottom of the watertight compartment may have fixation grooves provided at the abovementioned positions and the lower edge may have respective protrusions configured for allowing a press fit connection to said grooves.
• Extendible coupling rod
  The, at least, one extendible coupling rod has a first end connected by means of a joint to an upper edge of the first plate and a second end configured to be coupled to an upper edge of the second plate. For example, the second end of the rod may have a hook or claw that is complementary with a grasping element provided at the upper edge of the second plate. The coupling rod can thereby provide rigidness to the cervical immobiliser as disclosed in more detail below.

[0029] Thanks to this configuration, the cervical immobiliser can alternate between: a folded position where the plates are in a horizontal position completely housed within the watertight compartment and the, at least one, coupling rod is coplanar with the plates; and an unfolded position where the plates are in a vertical position with their lower edge fixed to the bottom of the watertight compartment for allowing the sides of the head of the rescued person to abut and the second end of the coupling rod is coupled to the upper edge of the second plate such that it is essentially perpendicular to the first and second plates. That is, in the unfolded position, the rod is coupled to the upper edges of both plates, and both plates are further fixed to the bottom of the watertight compartment in a vertical position. Thereby, a rigid structure having an essentially arcade-like shape is generated, and the head of the rescued person can be positioned inside for immobilisation.

[0030] The cervical immobilisation is advantageous because it can be unfolded in a fast and simple manner and, which is very important in this context, particularly when the sea conditions are not favourable. Once the lid of the watertight compartment is extracted, the rescuer needs only to take both lateral support plates and to couple them to the bottom of the compartment, and then to fix the second end of the coupling rod to the upper edge of the second plate.

[0031] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom of the watertight compartment of the cervical immobiliser comprises a plurality of means for fixing the lower edge of the support plates in several positions corresponding to different distances at either side of the longitudinal axis. For example, the fixation means in the lower edge of the support plates may comprise a plurality of first pairs of grooves for fixing the lower edge of the first support plate and a plurality of second pairs of grooves for the fixation of the lower edge of the second support plate, where each pair of grooves can be provided along a transverse direction at a different distance from the longitudinal axis of the cervical board. For example, the lines of grooves may be provided at a distance of 12,5 cm, 15 cm, 17,5 cm, and 20 cm. In this case, the rescuer needs only to couple the lateral support plates in the desired position, and thereafter to push vertically downwards until the protrusions in the lower edge of the plates press-fit within the grooves provided at the bottom of the watertight compartment.

[0032] This configuration is advantageous in that the lateral support plates can be easily coupled with different separation distances, thus allowing the rescuer to adjust the dimensions of the vertical immobiliser to the size of the head of the rescued person.

[0033] According to another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, an interior surface of the plates is inflatable to adapt to the head of the rescued person. For example, the interior surface of each plate may have one or more inflatable compartments provided to accommodate the sides of the head of the rescued person. The inflation system for the compartments may be automatic, by connecting an inflation inlet to a small pressure reservoir provided also within the watertight compartment, or else by blowing by the rescuer himself/herself.

[0034] This configuration is advantageous because it allows for the head of the patient to be better and more comfortably immobilised by means of the cervical immobiliser.

[0035] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the equipment further comprises a spinal board supplement suitable for being coupled to a foot edge of the spinal board. For example, the spinal board supplement may have rods protruding longitudinally from on edge for being coupled to longitudinal orifices provided at the foot edge of the spinal board.

[0036] This configuration is advantageous in that the length of the spinal board can be extended in case a very tall person is rescued.

[0037] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the stretcher further comprises a second cavity configured for housing an oxygen reservoir. This feature allows for applying oxygen to the patient if necessary. The cavity may have a complementary shape with the shape of the reservoir, such that the reservoir does not protrude upwardly from the upper surface of said stretcher. For example, the cavity could be situated at the head portion of the stretcher, close to the place where the head of the patient rests during use of the equipment. Furthermore, the oxygen reservoir could be disposable, such that it could be a consumable item always ensuring an optimal supply of oxygen.

[0038] This new rescue equipment for spinal injured patients in aquatic environment can also be raised using any type of machinery intended therefor. Both the stretcher and the spinal board have several gripping means along the periphery, such as handles or orifices for a hook to be coupled for the equipment to be raised to a boat or to dry land. Manual or motorized raising means, such as a crane, could be used. In this case, the crane could be operated remotely.

BREVE DESCRIPCION DE LAS FIGURAS

[0039] 

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary equipment in an assembled condition according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the exemplary equipment according to the invention with the elements conforming it in a disassembled condition.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the stretcher of an exemplary equipment according to the invention.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the spinal board of an exemplary equipment according to the invention.

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged perspective view of a coupling means coupling the spinal board to the stretcher in an exemplary equipment according to the invention.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a head portion of the spinal board of the equipment according to the invention where the watertight compartment is open.

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a head portion of the spinal board of the equipment according to the invention where the cervical immobiliser is assembled.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a head portion of the spinal board of the equipment according to the invention where the coupling grooves of the lateral support plates of the cervical immobiliser are visible.

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of the lateral support plates of the cervical immobiliser according to the invention where the inflatable compartments are visible.

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a foot portion of the spinal board of the equipment according to the invention where the spinal board supplement is visible.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0040] A preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the attached figures is now disclosed.

[0041] Fig. 1 shows a general view of the water rescue equipment (1) for multiple injured patients according to the present invention in a completely assembled condition. The water rescue equipment (1) is mainly formed by a floating rescue stretcher (2) where a spinal board (3) fits, these two elements being joined by coupling means (4).

[0042] The stretcher (2), shown in more detail in Figs. 2 and 3, has an essentially flat rectangular shape having two short sides respectively limited by a head edge (21) and a foot edge (22), and two long sides respectively limited by lateral edges (23). The stretcher (2) is made of a material having a large enough floatability for keeping the rescued person above the water level. Further, for preventing the rescuer or the rescued person to be harmed, all or some of the edges of the stretcher (2) may be rounded.

[0043] The upper surface (24) of the stretcher is essentially flat and it is provided with a central cavity (241) that is also flat and essentially rectangular for receiving therein the spinal board (3). That is, the base of the cavity (241) is flat and parallel to the rest of the upper surface (24) of the stretcher (2), although it is recessed several centimetres with respect thereto. The base of the cavity (241) has a pair of longitudinal channels (25) which, as disclosed below, guide the spinal board (3) when introduced in the cavity (241). In this context, the longitudinal direction (L) is parallel to the long sides of the stretcher (2). Further, the cavity (241) is open towards the foot edge (22) of the stretcher (2) both for allowing for the introduction of the spinal board (3) and for preventing the accumulation of water therein.

[0044] The stretcher (2) has also a plurality of handles (26) provided along the edges (21, 22, 23) for the rescuer to hold. Further, the stretcher (2) comprises a front ring for hoisting. Furthermore, the whole stretcher (2) is covered or painted with a reflective or retro-reflective material for ensuring visibility. All these gripping means allow for the equipment (1) of the invention to be raised to land or to a boat using any suitable raising means. This includes both manual raising and motorized raising systems, or even motorized raising systems controlled remotely.

[0045] The spinal board (3), represented in more detail in Figs. 2 and 4, has a flat and essentially rectangular shape complementary with the shape of the cavity (241) of the stretcher. That is, the thickness of the spinal board (3) is similar to the depth of the cavity (241), and its shape fits precisely in said cavity (241). The spinal board (3) has also rails on the lower surface (not shown in the figures) configured to be introduced and to slide along the longitudinal channels (25) provided at the base of the cavity (241), such that a guided and controller introduction of the spinal board (3) in the cavity (241) of the stretcher is achieved. The spinal board (3) also has a plurality of orifices (31) provided along the periphery for providing suitable hold for the rescuer.

[0046] The fixation between the spinal board (3) and the stretcher (2) is carried out by coupling means (4). The coupling means (4), shown in detail in Fig. 5, are mainly formed by rods (42) protruding from first orifices (41) provided in the stretcher (4), these rods (42) being configured to enter into second orifices (43) provided in the spinal board (3). More specifically, the first orifices (41) of the stretcher (4) house the rods (42) such that they can alternate between two positions: an interior position where the rods (42) are completely housed within the first orifices (41), and an exterior position where the rods (42) protrude outwardly from the first orifices (41). A spring and an internal mechanism (not shown in the figures) allow for the rescuer to move the rods (42) between the interior position and the exterior position merely by pushing them downwards.

[0047] In the present example, the rods (42) have an inverted-L shape formed by an essentially vertical shaft with respect to the base of the cavity (241) of the stretcher (2) and an end provided with a protrusion or projection (421) that is essentially parallel to said bottom of the cavity (241) of the stretcher (2). The first orifices (41) have a rectangular cross-section, such that when the rods (42) are in the interior position both the shaft and the projection (421) are housed therein, and therefore the base of the cavity (241) of the stretcher (2) is flat. In this situation, the spinal board (3) can be introduced in the cavity (241) of the cavity (2). The second orifices (43) of the spinal board (3) are positioned such that, when the spinal board (3) is completely introduced inside the cavity (241), they are coincident with the position of the first orifices (41) of the stretcher (2). Further, the second orifices (43) also have a rectangular cross-section allowing for the rod (42) to pass therethrough. Once the projections (421) of the rods (42) pass completely through the second orifices (43), said rods (42) can be rotated around a rotation axis contained in the shaft, such that the respective projections (421) become locked and cannot be extracted from said second orifices (43) unless the rods (42) are rotated again towards their initial position. The provision of four coupling means (4) of this type, two at either side of the spinal board (3), ensures a firm fixation of the board (3) to the stretcher (2).

[0048] The rescue equipment (1) of the invention further comprises a cervical immobiliser (5) provided permanently in the spinal board (3), as shown in more details in Figs. 6-9. The cervical immobiliser (5) of this example is housed inside a watertight compartment having a lid (52) situated at the head portion of the spinal board (3). Inside said compartment two lateral support plates (51, 52) are provided, each having an extendible coupling rod (53). Each lateral support plate (51, 52) has an essentially rectangular shape, and at an edge they have coupling elements (522) for the fixation to fixation means (55) provided at the bottom of the watertight compartment. Furthermore, the bottom of the watertight compartment has a plurality of fixation means (55), in this case orifices, configured for allowing for the fixation of the lateral support plates (51, 52) at different distances from the longitudinal axis (L) of the spinal board (3). These fixation means (55) are shown in detail in Fig. 8.

[0049] In the initial situation, these elements are in a folded position where the plates (51, 52) are in a horizontal position completely housed within the watertight compartment and the extendible coupling rods (52) are coplanar with the plates (51, 52). To move to the unfolded position, the rescuer holds the lateral support plates (51, 52) in a vertical position and introduces the coupling elements (522) of the plates (51, 52) inside the desired fixation means (55) according to the distance between plates (51, 52) necessary for the size of the head of each rescuer person. To stiffen the assembly and prevent the lateral support plates (51, 52) from moving, the rescuer uses the extendible rods (53). Each extendible rod (53) has a first end rotatably fixed to an edge of each plate (51, 52) opposite to the edge fixed to the bottom of the compartment, and a second end configured for being coupled to the other plate (51, 52). The rescuer needs only to impart the extendible rods (53) a length corresponding to the chosen distance between support plates (51, 52), and to couple the second end of each of the rods (53) to the corresponding first or second lateral support plate (51, 52). Therefore, a rigid assembly capable of safely holding the head and neck of the rescued person irrespective of the sea conditions is obtained.

[0050] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 9, the lateral support plates (51, 52) have an inflatable surface (511) at the inner side for immobilising the head and neck of the rescued person in a more secure manner.

[0051] Fig. 10 shows a spinal board supplement (6) suitable to be coupled to a foot edge of the board (3) for enlarging it if necessary, given the size of the rescued person. The spinal board supplement (6) has fixation means with the spinal board (3) which, in the present example, are three rods suitable for being introduced in corresponding orifices at the foot edge of the spinal board (3).

[0052] The equipment (1) of the invention is further provided with a second cavity (7) in a head portion of the stretcher (2) for housing an oxygen reservoir. This would allow for supplying oxygen to the rescued person immediately instead of waiting until land or a boat is reached. The oxygen reservoir is preferably disposable, such that once used in must be replaced by a new one, thus ensuring a good use condition at all times.

Claims

1. Water rescue equipment (1) for multiple injured patients, characterized by comprising:

- a floating flat rescue stretcher (2) having an essentially rectangular shape limited by a head edge (21), a foot edge (22), and two lateral edges (23), said stretcher (2) having an upper rescue surface (24) for receiving a rescued person, and where the upper surface (24) comprises a flat, essentially rectangular central cavity (241) that is recessed with respect to said rescue surface (24) and open towards the foot edge (22) of said stretcher (2);

- an essentially rectangular flat spinal board (3) fitting in the central cavity (241) of the rescue surface (24) of the stretcher (2) such that it is essentially flush with said rescue surface (24); and

- coupling means (4) configured for coupling the spinal board (3) to the stretcher (2) when the board (3) is housed in the cavity (241).

2. Water (1) rescue equipment according to claim 1, where the lower surface of the spinal board (3) comprises longitudinal rails, and the base of the central cavity (241) of the stretcher (2) comprises longitudinal channels (25) open towards the foot edge (22) of the stretcher (2) and configured to slidably receive said rails of the spinal board (3) for guiding it until a complete introduction in the cavity (241) of the stretcher (2).

3. Water rescue equipment (1) according to any of the previous claims, where the coupling means (4) comprise:

- first vertical axis orifices (41) provided at the base of the cavity (241) of the stretcher (2);

- rods (42) configured for alternating between an interior position with respect to said first orifices (41) and an exterior position with respect to said first orifices (41), where said rods (42) comprise an upper end (421) provided with a fixation projection, and where said rods (42) are rotatable around their vertical axis; and

- second orifices (43) provided in the spinal board (3) in a position that is coincident with the position of the first orifices (41) of the stretcher (2) when the spinal board (3) is completely introduced in the cavity (241), where the second orifices (43) only allow for the upper end of the rods (421) to pass in a particular angular position,

such that, when the spinal board (3) is completely introduced in the cavity (241) of the stretcher (2), the rods (42) in said particular angular position can be moved to the exterior position, passing through said second orifices (43), and subsequently can be rotated around the vertical axis to an angular position different from the particular angular position, such that the fixation projections (421) are locked against the edge of the second orifices (43) and prevent any movement of the spinal board (3).

4. Water rescue equipment (1) according to any of the previous claims, where the side of the cavity (241) open towards the foot edge of the cavity (2) comprises a downwardly inclined planefrom the base of the cavity (241) to a lower surface of the stretcher (2).

5. Water rescue equipment (1) according to any of the previous claims, where the spinal board (3) comprises a cervical immobiliser (5).

6. Water rescue equipment (1) according to claim 5, where the cervical immobiliser (5) is folded within a watertight compartment having a lid (52) and situated at a head portion of said spinal board (3).

7. Water rescue equipment (1) according to claim 6, where the cervical immobiliser (5) comprises:

- first and second lateral support plates (51, 52) having a lower edge configured for being coupled to the bottom of the watertight compartment in a vertical position in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spinal board (3) at either side of said longitudinal axis; and

- at least a coupling extendible rod (53) having a first end connected by means of an articulated connection to an upper edge of the first plate (51) and a second end configured to be coupled to an upper edge of the second plate (52),

such that the cervical immobiliser (5) can alternate between a folded position where the plates (51, 52) are in a horizontal position completely housed inside the watertight compartment and the coupling extendible rod (53) is coplanar with the plates (51, 52), and an unfolded position where the plates (51, 52) are in a vertical position with the lower edge coupled to the bottom of the watertight compartment for providing support for the sides of the head of the rescued person and the second end of the coupling extendible rod (53) is coupled to the upper edge of the second plate (52) such that it is essentially perpendicular to the first and second plates (51, 52).

8. Water rescue equipment (1) according to claim 7, where the bottom of the watertight compartment of the cervical immobiliser (5) comprises a plurality of fixation means (55) for the lower edge of the plates (51, 52) in various positions corresponding to different distances at either side of the longitudinal axis.

9. Water rescue equipment (1) according to any of claims 7-8, where an inner surface (511) of the plates (51, 52) is inflatable for adapting to the shape of the rescued person.

10. Water rescue equipment (1) according to any of the previous claims, further comprising a spinal board supplement (6) configured for being coupled to a foot edge of the spinal board (3).

11. Water rescue equipment (1) according to any of the previous claims, where the stretcher (2) further comprises a second cavity configured for housing an oxygen reservoir.

Drawing