Method and apparatus for evacuating contaminated casualties

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with the present invention, a contaminated casualty is evacuated to an uncontaminated treatment enclosure by means of a casualty evacuation container.
The treatment enclosure has at least one opening with first fastener means connected to and operable for opening and closing the opening.
The casualty evacuation container has inner and outer enclosures with the inner enclosure fitted inside the outer enclosure.
Both inner and outer enclosures have a casualty entry opening therethrough with second fastener means attached to and operable for opening and closing the casualty entry openings.
The second fastener means provides for closing the space between the inner and outer enclosures when the casualty entry openings are opened.
Accordingly, the space between the inner and outer enclosures remains uncontaminated while the interior of the inner enclosure is opened to receive a contaminated casualty.
A casualty extraction opening is provided in the outer enclosure and third fastener means are attached to and operable for opening and closing the casualty extraction opening.
The third fastener means are compatible with at least a portion of the first fastener for opening and closing the uncontaminated treatment enclosure into which the contaminated casualty is to be evacuated.
In accordance with the present invention, a contaminated casualty is safely evacuated to a treatment enclosure by: opening the casualty entry openings in the inner and outer enclosures forming the casualty evacuation container with the space therebetween being closed to remain uncontaminated; placing a casualty into the interior of the inner enclosure; operating the second fastener means to thereby close the casualty entry openings to enclose the contaminated casualty within the inner and outer enclosures; transporting the casualty in the casualty evacuation container; securing the third fastener means of the casualty extraction opening to the first fastener means of the treatment enclosure to thereby form a passageway between the interior of the outer enclosure and the interior of the treatment enclosure; and moving the casualty encapsulated within the inner enclosure through the casualty extraction opening into the uncontaminated treatment enclosure for decontamination and/or treatment of the casualty