SKEDCO · Patient Transport Sked® Basic Rescue System (SK-200) The original flexible rescue stretcher for confined-space, high-angle, technical, and land rescue — rigid when packaged, backpackable when stowed. Made in the USA. What is the Sked® Basic Rescue System? It is the definitive flexible stretcher (SK-200) for confined-space, high-angle, technical, and land-based rescue, deployed by military units, fire departments, tactical teams, and rescue professionals worldwide. Low-density E-Z Glide polyethylene stays flexible to roll and pack, then becomes rigid once a patient is secured. Ships as a complete system — Cordura® backpack, lift slings, tow strap, carabiner, and removable handles — in Steel Buckle or AustriAlpin Cobra® Quick Release configurations. Key Specifications Specification Detail Manufacturer SKEDCO (Made in USA) Model — Steel Buckles SK-200 | NSN 6530-01-620-2575 Model — Cobra Buckles SK-200C | NSN 6530-01-575-4004 Deployed Dimensions 91 cm × 244 cm (3 ft × 8 ft) Packed Dimensions 23 cm dia × 91 cm (9 in × 36 in) System Weight ~9 kg / 17–19 lb (complete) Stretcher Material Low-density E-Z Glide polyethylene Pack Material Cordura® nylon backpack / towing harness Hardware (Steel) Solid brass grommets, nylon webbing, steel buckles Hardware (Cobra) AustriAlpin Cobra® aluminum side-release (rated 3,000 lb / 1,360 kg) Horizontal Lift Slings 45 kN webbing tensile strength Vertical Lift Sling 31 kN rope tensile strength Temperature Range Usable to −84°C; melts at 230–260°C Certification CE-EN 1497:2007 Service Life Max 10 years; inspect yearly and after each use Available Colors International Orange; O.D. Green (military/tactical) What's Included — Complete System Component Function SK-201 Sked® Stretcher Full-length low-density polyethylene rescue platform SK-202 Cordura® Backpack Durable pack doubles as a towing harness SK-203 Horizontal Lift Slings (pair) 45 kN webbing for helicopter / crane hoisting SK-204 Sked® Tow Strap Drag evacuation over any terrain SK-205 Removable Webbing Handles (set of 4) Multiple carry points for team carry SK-206 Steel Locking 'D' Carabiner Large-format locking carabiner for rigging SK-207 Vertical Lift Sling 31 kN rope for vertical hoisting in shafts or caves Key Features Rigidity on demand. Flat, the sheet rolls and packs; once the patient is secured the wrapped system goes rigid, protecting the casualty through tight passages, rubble, and technical terrain where rigid litters cannot go. Multi-mode rescue. One system handles dragging, team carry, horizontal helicopter hoist, and vertical shaft/cave extraction in a single backpackable package. Two buckle variants. Steel (SK-200) is the proven original; Cobra (SK-200C) uses AustriAlpin quick-release hardware rated 3,000 lb, cutting packaging time roughly in half. Extreme temperature performance. E-Z Glide polyethylene stays usable to −84°C for alpine, arctic, and high-altitude work. Compact, backpackable. Packed to just 23 cm dia × 91 cm — fits through manholes, mine shafts, and confined industrial spaces. Military / tactical availability. O.D. Green option and federal NSN numbers support government procurement. CE-EN 1497:2007 certified. Third-party validation of the lift-sling attachment system for international deployments. Who Is This For? Audience Why It Fits Fire & Rescue Unmatched confined-space performance for structural collapse, mine, and tunnel incidents where rigid baskets cannot maneuver. Military Medical (68W / SARC / PJ) NSN-stocked, O.D. Green available; CASEVAC from buildings, vehicles, and urban terrain. Helicopter-hoist capable without extra rigging. Law Enforcement / SWAT Low-profile pack and rapid drag for ballistic casualty extraction from buildings, stairwells, and vehicle bays. Cave & Mountain Rescue 31 kN vertical sling enables single-rope extraction from caves, shafts, and cliffsides at extreme sub-zero temps. Industrial Safety Confined-space entry programs in petroleum, chemical, and utility sectors; sanitizes and redeploys. EMS / Critical Care Transport Moves patients from stairwells, crush scenarios, and wilderness where wheeled cots cannot reach. Operating Notes — Deployment Sequence Operating Notes Unroll the stretcher on a flat surface beside the patient; the backpack converts to the towing harness. Log-roll or slide the patient onto the platform, centered lengthwise; maintain spinal precautions as clinically indicated. Pull the sides up and thread the securing straps — steel buckles weave, Cobra buckles snap in (~50% faster). Confirm the wrapped system is rigid and the integrated harness is taut. Select extraction mode: drag (tow strap), team carry (webbing handles), horizontal hoist (45 kN slings), or vertical lift (31 kN sling + carabiner). Clean per manufacturer guidance, inspect hardware and webbing, and record the date of use; annual inspection, 10-year max service life. Why the Sked® Remains the Standard Rigid basket litters need a clear path, ceiling height, and team size that confined spaces rarely afford. The Sked® wraps around the patient and slides through doorways, turnarounds, and debris fields where rigid litters jam — and its integrated slings are already aboard when a helicopter hoist is needed. The CE-EN 1497:2007 certification is third-party validation of the lift harness, not a manufacturer claim. The AustriAlpin Cobra® buckle option on the SK-200C uses the same fastener technology found in high-end mountaineering and parachute systems, specified by teams that measure packaging time in seconds. The Sked® is also a force multiplier — one or two rescuers can drag a packaged patient clear of an IDLH environment without waiting for full team assembly. For paired use, see EMS response bags and tactical medical backpacks. Frequently Asked Questions SK-200 (Steel) vs. SK-200C (Cobra)? Identical stretcher, pack, slings, tow strap, and carabiner. The SK-200C swaps steel buckles for AustriAlpin Cobra® aluminum quick-release buckles rated 3,000 lb that clip and release under tension — about 50% faster packaging, preferred for tactical and high-tempo rescue. Maximum patient weight? SKEDCO does not publish a single figure; the 45 kN horizontal / 31 kN vertical sling ratings far exceed practical working loads. Consult SKEDCO for formal load certification specific to your authority's standards. Water rescue? Yes — the polyethylene is waterproof and hardware is non-corroding. Optional SK-600-series flotation logs add buoyancy; the SK-650 bundles the SK-200 with CO₂-inflatable logs for rapid water deployment. Training required? SKEDCO recommends formal confined-space, packaging, and rigging training before operational use. High-angle, vertical, and helicopter operations require rigging competency; many technical-rescue and fire academy programs include Sked® operations. Service life & inspection? Max 10 years from manufacture; inspect annually and after every use — stretcher integrity, webbing, buckle function, carabiner gate, and sling stitching. Remove from service on any functional compromise; hardware is individually replaceable. Compatible with the Oregon Spine Splint II? Yes — the OSS (SK-300 series) can be used inside the Sked® for spinal immobilization in confined spaces. The SK-800 Complete Rescue System bundles the SK-200, SK-300, and SK-600 flotation system. Related searches: Sked rescue system, SK-200 flexible stretcher, confined space rescue litter, helicopter hoist stretcher, technical rescue stretcher, Cobra buckle Sked, SKEDCO Made in USA. All products sourced from the actual brand manufacturer or authorized master distributors. CoTCCC recommendation status verified where applicable. Ships from MED-TAC International, Pembroke Pines, FL — clinician-founded, veteran-led, SDVOSB-certified.
