The Charlie’s Horse Deployment System

• 2008 May 1

All the factors referenced thus far were analyzed prior to Darling’s development of his revolutionary deployment and field operations concepts. Although some manufacturers claim to sell comprehensive emergency response systems for disasters and other major incidents, most are nothing more than tractor trailers, trucks, trailers or tents loaded with cots and miscellaneous supplies not designed for rapid deployment in hard-to-reach areas. They are not highly versatile “systems” like the MERF, and the equipment deployed with them isn’t comparable to the multi-function litter platforms, transfer devices, equipment canisters and accessories developed by Charlie’s Horse. 

The Charlie’s Horse Deployment System is very different from any other system available. Unique in concept, design and functionality, every item manufactured for the Charlie’s Horse Deployment System is designed from its inception to be part of a truly integrated system intended to serve as a “force multiplier™” and productivity enhancer. 

The uniqueness of this equipment is further illustrated by the six patents issued to date (6,142,671; 6,164671; 6,270,092; 6,561,539; 7,017,939; 7,150,465), with 12 more pending. 

According to Darling, each item is designed to be “Mission Adaptable, Not Mission Specific™.” Each component is versatile, durable and interchangeable. For example, if an agency deploys a MERF and finds that an incident calls for additional surgical or intensive-care capabilities, existing litter platforms can be reconfigured and turned into a fully functional operating table or ICU bed. And all of the Charlie’s Horse SR accessories are compatible with each platform rail so they can be transferred to another patient area as needed.

The highly specialized Charlie’s Horse Deployment System is an accelerated and advanced outgrowth of equipment originally developed by North Coast Outfitters Ltd. for hunters and other outdoorsmen. 

The Charlie’s Horse Deployment System consists of three equipment series integrated to provide one overall, inter-related system unequaled in its ability to deploy personnel and equipment to the field and assist in casualty extraction and patient movement/treatment within field medical facilities. For example, with this system, patients don’t have to be moved from their litter onto a transfer gurney to be taken to surgery, X-ray or an ICU position. Their litter is simply unlocked from its platform and moved, or the entire wheeled platform can be moved to facilitate the transfer. 

Charlie’s Horse Deployment System Equipment Series

1) SR SERIES: This series offers seven models of collapsible wheeled stretcher carriers and multi-purpose utility tables that enhance the treatment and movement of patients, as well as assist in the deployment and re-supply of medical facilities. The Marine Corps, Navy, Army, Air Force and DMAT currently deploy this equipment in the field to enhance their manpower capabilities.

2) CH SERIES: This series offers four models of collapsible carts that enhance mission capabilities by multiplying existing manpower, expanding the operational range of personnel deploying equipment and assisting in the evacuation of casualties. Military and civilian customers use equipment from this series for myriad tasks to deploy oxygen-generating systems, generators, water purification systems, field medical, X-ray and dental facilities, electronic command posts and ordinance. 

3) CH 661 SERIES: This series consists of patented fiberglass composite canisters, which offer an enhanced alternative to existing containerization doctrine. A versatile combination of lids, storage containers, trays and sliding drawers can be configured in various combinations and customized to meet specific customer needs, to provide flexibility for payloads and to deploy necessary equipment and supplies in a safe, organized, easy-to-move manner as shown throughout this supplement. The unique design of these durable but lightweight canisters allows you to adapt to equipment and supply needs as they evolve without needing to use multiple containers. An optional set of drawers and trays (used in all MERF packages) fits into the Charlie’s Horse canister and allows you to concentrate supplies in a canister and provide you with organized and easily identifiable storage locations. Used in conjunction with the CH 661 (transfer device) series, and the four-wheeled model CH401M4, one person can deploy 750 lbs. of supplies and equipment.

The Marines adopted use of the Charlie’s Horse low-profile, two-wheeled, multi-purpose, collapsible cart (the CH101M255) to transport supplies and equipment into a region, and then convert the cart to a platform that can easily transport injured soldiers over rough terrain with minimal effort (see Photo 1). 

Special wheels had to be designed that would not fail over rough terrain. The Charlie’s Horse wheel is fiberglass-reinforced nylon that incorporates dual 440 stainless-steel ball bearings. The tire used is micro-cellular urethane, which provides all of the benefits of a pneumatic tire without the down side of going flat when needed most. Designed to minimize friction at the hub level and absorb and dissipate shock energy, these wheels allow one person to effortlessly move an injured patient and heavy gear without any assistance. This successful, force-multiplying product used by the Marines led Darling to expand his cargo and deployment expertise into the disaster and emergency medical services arenas.

The wheeled litter stand (SR701RT), developed as a result of the research and interview process, is a perfect example of what sets the Charlie’s Horse Deploy-ment System and its equipment apart from all other systems. The SR701RT can function as a basic wheeled litter stand to gather and move casualties (Photos 2 and 3) and can accomodate ventilators, IV poles and other accessories when necessary (Photo 4). 

Because of the flexibility built into the Charlie’s Horse platforms, the equipment and accessories used on the wheeled SR701 models can be rapidly transferred over to the fixed-base SR901RT multi-purpose utility table that can serve as a treatment platform, an ICU bed or operating room platform as mission requirements dictate (see Photo 5). 

Therefore, this one piece of equipment reduces the footprint of a medical deployment while increasing the effectiveness of personnel and the quality of medical care being rendered. 

A close examination of the SR701RT reveals its unique and important nuances. In addition to providing a stable platform and featuring Trendelenberg and other capabilities, the SR701RT’s support structure was designed to absorb and dissipate shock energy encountered when moving injured individuals over rough terrain during evacuation, an important consideration for traumatized victims with painful fractures (see Photo 6).

Similarly, the CH 661 series can be rapidly transformed into a cargo hauler during initial deployment, enabling a single individual to move 500 lbs. of equipment (see Photo 7). 

Charlie’s Horse designed a special series of fiberglass containers (see Photo 8) to stack on top of each other within the CH401M4 Cargo Hauler. And, once the equipment containers are off-loaded, each cargo hauler can be transformed into a litter mover or casualty extraction device, if/when necessary. 

The Charlie’s Horse Deployment System equipment is specifically de-signed to allow you to maximize the use of limited personnel early in an incident—illustrating the concept of force multiplication . 

Thus the entire series of multi-functional Charlie’s Horse products is designed to store, protect, move and adapt to each incident before, during and after the deployment of the highly specialized product offered by the MERF.

More importantly, through use of the unique equipment developed by Charlie’s Horse, all the MERF equipment can be deployed worldwide, by any means available, within 24 hours and can become fully operational within one hour of the system touching the ground.

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