Rational
The design is an improve version of the existing stretcher design. When existing stretcher really being put into use, people have encounter a few problems. Thus this design is to help to solve these problems or minimize the effect of these problems. base on the existing stretcher in our life occurred when the existing problem, arising from the improved design. Also, this stretcher is especially design for the patient who is suffering in the flood area, this design will enable the rescue people to get the patient out of the area faster and easier.
The saver disaster stretcher is the ideal product for mass casualty and catastrophic situation, constructed of durable and light weight material, which is the recycled PET fabric, stain resistant to the blood and bodily fluids, easy to clean and wash. It will not leave any bacteria on the surface compare to the other material. It also could help to control virus from spreading in that area through stretchers. PE foam is also used as the floating material. It can be quickly deploy onto the rescue scene to accommodate multiple victim. Once finished, it can be conveniently packed into a small size to provide easy storage and carrying.
Now there is a problem with the stretcher in lifting it up, there are 4 separate foams that will not have strong support to the patient when it lift up. There are lots of way to fix these foam together, but will take time to do it. According to the research on the internet, in Asia, there is a special bamboo mat that people normally put it on the bed during the summer to reduce the heat, and the way this type of mat is weave is very tradition and has a special pattern. I am inspired by this after inspecting the mat itself. This stretcher will use this type of weaving method to make it strong when lifting it up . The good design can come from the traditional material or traditional method to use it more easily and faster.
The foldable stretcher just looks like a backpack, which allows people to carry and hold. The dimension of folded is 50cm * 60cm which will just fit onto the back, and the unfolded dimension is 50cm * 203cm, giving patients enough space to lie down. To place the safety belts are very important, most of the injured parts will be around the neck, chest. Itis better to put the belts below the chest and the other one will be place on the leg that prevents the patient from moving around.
Colour is the most important part during the rescue in the disaster area. Colour is a signal to warn or help people. This stretcher use bright orange and yellow to catch people's attention showing that rescue people are coming to save their life.
As the design student, we have lots of thing to learn, for instance, use of colour, material, and faster or easier way to use the product. The main point of designing this stretcher is to help the rescue team to save people's life much more easier and efficient.
Reflection
A disaster is a natural or man made hazard that has come to fruition resulting in an event of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life, or drastic change to the environment.
We could not stop the disaster, but we can improve the technology or equipment to prevent the death and lost. As a design student, we could help our country to design something that are usable to them. We need to have a few steps to start designing a usable product, firstly, research the information about these areas, what do they need when they are suffering in a disaster and select a few of them and get into more details about them? Which kind of material do they have locally? Secondly, elaborate the problem, define the problem, and solve the problem. Thirdly, start drawing some concepts that relate to this area, to finalize the product at the end. Fourthly, conclude the previous information to go to the deeper level with material, use, technology, colour, and make the model to test the results. These steps really help me to get better solution on the product concept in order to sort out a product that is really need improving and will be more useful and easier to use during disaster.
To design a product, we need to think lots of ways or even different ways to come up with an idea. To have a good idea is not easy, by working and discussing with the group mate or friends, asking them to inspect my concept and find out what problem I have in this concept that I did not notice. I spent lots of time on the way of using stretcher, but forgot how to make stretcher strongly support the patient when it life up. By keep working on the problem and finding a way to integrate the traditional way of the bamboo mat is weave really helps me to finish this project faster and get a more efficient solution.
In conclusion, this project taught me that keep on thinking different way is best way of design. And don't limited myself to a few things, the mind of a designer should be open to all the things around us and notice their slight differences. Also I will need to learn more about the use of material and technology that will help me to come up an idea quickly. Spending time on this project is the most important, to have a good product we need to spend a sufficient amount of time on it.
