October 15, 2004
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How To Carry An Unconscious Person
Recently I discovered how hard it is to carry an unconscious person. Up till then, my closest experience had been trying to carry kids who pull the “jello blob” maneuver. But carrying those kids is easy because:
- Kids are light.
- Dignity is not an issue.
So you just grab any available part and hoist them up. Underwear and bellies showing, whatever. Parents and teachers, you know what I’m talking about.
But adults are a different matter. I had read before (probably in some survival manual) that the way to carry an inert body is using the Fireman’s Carry (Figure A below). I guess firemen do this all the time to retrieve people from burning buildings. The problem is that this looks very undignified, with the victim’s back end pointed skywards.
The most dignified carry is the Over-The-Threshold (Figure B). I mean, if it’s good enough for wedding photos… But when I went to try this (left arm under the upper legs, right arm behind the neck and shoulder blades), the person just slipped through my arms. By moving my right arm down to the upper back, I could perform the lift, but the person’s head and arms just flopped over backwards (Figure C). That’s not what happens in the movies! Then I realized in the movies, she is only feigning unconsciousness and is really using an arm to support herself (Figure D). In real life, if you’re careful enough, you can get your neck under her armpit and balance her torso with your upper arm, but her head will still flop over backwards. It’s not as easy as it looks.
Thanks to jglee for research assistance and illustrations used in this post.
- Kids are light.
Comments (28)
Um if she is female, do you really want to carry her like the diagram in D? Why can’t you piggy back her? That should be diagram E.
Oh, figure D is kind of misleading. My forearm is not across her chest, but instead it’s free-floating like my other arm. It’s because she is secretly supporting her upper-body weight with her arm. Remember, that’s the “in the movies” style which cannot be done in real life.
To piggyback her, she needs to be conscious to mount me. I’m not sure how to get an unconscious person onto my back.
i think with any of the positions, you’ll end up touching some part of her anatomy that she would normally not want you to touch if she were conscious.
come on boys! i don’t find anything titallating about my arm position in picture D. even if that arm is smooshed against those marshmellows.
is there a word like “necrophilia” but regarding unconscious people? that’s the idea i’m trying to get at. touching an unconscious person is not sexy — but maybe it is too you guys! so i have no qualms about carrying her in any of A B C or D positions. whatever gets the job done and the unconscious person to safety!
those pics are awesome. i think they are art! what’s the artist’s name?
cb, what if you had to carry an unconscious natalie portman?
hahaha, good one peterskim!
CB, I credit the artist at the end of the post. We were going to take mpg videos also but couldn’t find her digital camera.
marmite don’t laugh!!!!!
well, in that case, i would be carrying a heavenly being, so i wouldn’t be feeling anything but pure and radiant thoughts
hmm… that’s a good pickup line. “can you pretend you’re unconscious so i can pick you up and hold you in a number of different positions? oh, and do you mind if i put this on video?”
what does “research assistance” refer to in the credit line changed
ha ha nevermind
*gasp* I can’t believe you called it “marshmellows” LOL
well i could have said pancakes or scones or waffles
cb, stop when you have a chance.
hahahahahaha hilarious
Now I’m hungry.
changed, keep on going. Dude, you’ve reached the point of no return.
If I go any farther, I will have to protect this post and charge subscription fees.
hey let’s take a survey! what do peeps here prefer for breakfast?
in order of preference i like french creuller donuts, chocolate croissant, orange scone, egg mcmuffin, french toast
Are you making this a comparison to “marshmellows”?
Why is the dude only wearing boxers?
haha! that’s right! in picture D it’s clear that there is no shirt!!!
also, why does the guy suddenly have kneepads on in picture D?
fatfreemayo: get your mind out of the gutter that changed and peterskim threw it in!!!! just talking about breakfast food i was
i love these hand drawings — we need more of them
look at those bulging arm muscles in picture A! wow, ed.. your workouts are really paying off.
“what’s the artist’s name?” … CB, she’s married so ferget it!
yo antlipups — thanks for all the smart credit card tips
Question. What is the most dignified way a female should carry an unconscious male? =P
I say it’s high time we start carrying you men like in diagram A. =P