The choice of a particular carry has little to do with the disability of the person to be rescued, and more to do with his or her size, abilities, and certain problems, such as leg spasms. The choice between the carries relates then to the general physical attributes of both the rescuer and the rescuee.

As the size of the rescuee approaches the size of the rescuer, the difficulty of choosing a technique increases and becomes more and more dependent on the abilities of the rescuee.

Cradle Carry

The Cradle Carry method should be used when the person has little or no arm strength. It is safest if the person being carried weighs less than the carrier’s weight.

Swing or Chair Carry

The advantage of the Swing or Chair Carry is that partners can support, with practice and coordination, a person whose weights is the same or even greater than their own eight. The disadvantage is increased awkwardness in vertical travel (stair descent) due to the complexity of the two-person carry. Also, three persons abreast may exceed the effective width of the stairway.

How to:

• Stand on opposite sides of the individual being rescued
• Take the rescuee’s arm on your side and place it around your shoulder
• Grasp your carry partner’s forearm behind the rescuee, at the small of his or her back
• Reach under the rescuee’s knees and grasp your carry partner’s other wrist
• Lean in close to the individual and lift at the count of three
• Continue pressing into the individual being carried to provide additional support
• After completion of the lift, shift the rescuee upward for a more comfortable carry

In-Chair Carry

The wheelchair user is anxious to be returned to his or her wheelchair after the rescue; therefore, the in-chair evacuation is desirable when feasible.

How to (one-person assist):

• Grasp the pushing grips, if the wheelchair has them
• Stand one step above and behind the wheelchair
• Tilt the wheelchair backward until a balance (fulcrum) is achieved
• Keep your centre of gravity low
• Descend forward
• Let the back wheels gradually lower to the next step
• If possible, have another person assist you

How to (two-person assist)

• Positioning of first rescuer is the same as the on-person assist
• Positioning of second rescuer:
• Stand in front of wheelchair
• Face the wheelchair
• Stand one, two, or three steps down (dependent on height of the rescuer)
• Grasp the frame of the wheelchair
• Push into the wheelchair
• Descend stairs backward
• The person in front should be careful not to lift the wheelchair, as this places additional weight on the person assisting behind the wheelchair

How to (three-person assist)

• Position for second and third rescuers:
• Face direction of descent
• Flank the wheelchair
• Stay in line with the two front (smaller) wheels
• Stand one step/tread lower than rescuer behind wheelchair
• Grasp the frame of the wheelchair
• Push into the wheelchair