Van Guard Accessories has partnered with North Dartmoor Search & Rescue to develop a stretcher loading system for its Land Rover Defender fleet.
The solution is based on Van Guard Accessories’ ULTILoader, which was designed to lower equipment from a vehicle’s roof to working height. It uses the 2.3m compact version, intended for smaller vans or specialised vehicles with less roof space.
A stretcher can now be loaded in under 30 seconds by one person, without requiring someone to climb onto the roof of the vehicle.
James Watts, team chairman at North Dartmoor Search & Rescue, said: “This new solution is easier to use, allowing individuals to unload a stretcher off the roof with one hand. We don’t have team members on the roof of the vehicle in cold, wet and windy conditions, often in the dark. To unload or load the stretcher previously required up to three people, but now it can be done safely by one person at ground level in 30 seconds.
“There’s no more climbing up a tiny metal ladder and untying a stretcher from a roof rack and waiting for two or three team members below to unload the stretcher too.”
Emlyn Harris, managing director at Van Guard Accessories, added: “We know our products make a tangible difference every day, but hearing that the ULTILoader is supporting mountain rescue operations on Dartmoor is something truly special.”
