Handles locked forward when the ‘burrito’ (folded yellow tarp with a ~25 lb duffle containing trauma supplies*) is strapped in to the rear of the sled to counter-balance the handles. The burrito takes up the back half of the sled. The handles are folded back when the sled is empty. We use Cascade 100 sleds with the rings mounted by the forward and middle retaining strap locations. The sleds are balanced that way.
Did that make sense? I don’t have a picture handy.
If you put an extra link or two in the carrier handle hooks so that it can be raised just to the level of the lift chair without lifting the sled off the ground, then it’s a little easier to move the sled with the handles folded back. I wish I had pictures to help explain.
We repack the burrito duffle with supplies at the aid room after each use so that the sled is ready for use, and ferry it to it’s on-hill location via lifts. We keep a few sleds at each top patrol shack and position others at strategically established locations around the hill.
*a wood, foam, and webbing quick leg splint, ladder splint, cardboard and foam arm splint, SAM splint, cravats/triangle bandages, nitrile gloves, a few bleeding supplies, and padding foam. A few sleds have backboards in them, which doesn’t affect the balance. Edit: also two wool army blankets in the duffel. So I guess the burrito is 20-25 lbs.
Perfect sense!
Thanks for the imagery!
Our sled packs are: Quick splint, misc foam blocks for under the knee etc, a bundle of 5 cravats, two moving blankets and a plastic bag.
We all carry SAMs and gloves, 4X4, cling and gauze etc. All sleds are packed before they leave Base First aid to be deployed on the mountain.
Our sled packs might be a bit lighter, but not by much ;-) We ditched the card board in the sled packs about 6 years ago. SAMs seem to fill the need. We keep the cardboard splints at BFA to package injuries going out.