Which component is essential when improvising a litter from trekking poles and a tarp?

• A. Using a tarp alone as the frame
• B. Securing the ends with cords
• C. Creating a frame with several trekking poles
• D. Place patient on the ground

Answer: (C)

A rigid, load-bearing frame is essential to turn a tarp into a functional litter. Building a frame with several trekking poles provides the structure that supports the patient’s weight, distributes it across multiple poles, and gives the litter its shape and stability. The tarp alone would sag, twist, or tear under load, making transport unsafe or impossible. Securing the tarp to the frame with cords helps keep everything in place, but it doesn’t create the necessary support by itself—the frame is what carries the load. Placing the patient on the ground is not appropriate for transport, so the frame built from trekking poles is the key element that makes an improvised litter workable.