TOC, or Transportation-of-Casualty, is commonly used when casualties involved in serious accidents such as a building collapse have to be evacuated to an ambulance nearby. The distance between the casualty and the ambulance may have many obstacles and obstructions. If the casualty cannnot walk, he has to be carried on a stretcher by the first-aiders.
 
The First-Aiders' duty is to bring the casualty or casualties to the ambulance or any other place to get help without endangering the life of the casualty or their own.
 
TOC can be either for casualties who can walk or those who cannot because of their injuries. Carries for first-aiders include the human crutch, where the first-aider supports the casualty as he walks, or the two-handed seat for 2 first-aiders. For unconscious casualties or casualties who are unable to walk, they are carried on stretchers.
 
TOC is often very challenging, especially when 4 first-aiders have to stretcher someone away. The first-aiders must be fit and tough enough to cope with any casualty that comes their way, including people of more weight. This is also put to use during harsh conditions like where the first-aiders have to 'leopard-crawl', so to speak, when they have to pass through a small tunnel perhaps only about half a metre tall.
 
TOC in the National Competition is executed by 4 first-aiders, who call their teammates by Number 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Number 1, the leader, is in charge of the situation and he issues commands to Numbers 2, 3 and 4 for maneouvres to transport the casualty. There is a standard way for crossing stable or unstable obstacles, but when slightly-more complicated obstacles come along, they have to use their wits to get the casualty, as well as themselves, across.
 
The activity promotes discipline, teamwork and quick thinking, not to mention training up on the members' strength and endurance.

Back to Top of Page