On Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Army Major Titus Rund has introduced an innovative solution for medical evacuations in extreme cold.
Rund, who serves as a flight surgeon, has spent over two years developing a unique inflatable sled designed to enhance the safety and comfort of injured service members during transport through snow-covered fields.
The sled resembles a cross between an inflatable raft and a tent, complete with a clear plastic window that zips onto the top.
With the sled, Rund is hopeful that injured personnel can remain both warm and alert during evacuation, stating, “Basically, on the worst day of my life, I can sit up. I can be situationally aware.”
The sled operates using a clever belt system that connects to a harness worn by a medical professional.
This design allows a smaller individual to transport a larger injured person with ease by minimizing friction, a critical advancement in medical evacuation techniques.
Moreover, this system addresses the crucial issue of hypothermia, a significant concern during cold-weather operations.
Rund emphasizes the importance of managing body temperature during evacuations, stating, “If you become hypothermic, your chance of dying goes up.”
Having seen individuals succumb to hypothermia even in desert climates, Rund’s motivation grows from a desire to innovate solutions for extreme conditions.
He believes that if hypothermia can be a factor in warmer environments, then it is imperative to have comprehensive solutions in colder climates.
Additionally, a critical assessment by the Department of Defense recognized shortcomings in providing medical care in extreme cold, which informed Rund’s design principles.
The sled is intended to dock into a larger, heated shelter, allowing medics to treat injured personnel while keeping essential medical supplies from freezing.
In cold weather, numerous challenges hinder the care of injured individuals, including wet conditions and the distance from safety.
Taking these factors into account, Rund has designed the sled to be lightweight and compact for easy transport.
Speed is also essential to minimize potential further injuries; Rund noted that securing the patient away from danger within minutes is vital in combat situations.
Rund’s CASEVAC Arctic rescue system is intended to address these design challenges, benefiting not only military personnel but also civilian rescuers.
The sled’s design is effective in insulating against wet and cold, while also elevating the person’s torso and incorporating a heating element.
Rund asserts, “It was about how quickly can we move a casualty and get them out of the environment?”
The necessity for such innovations has been highlighted, particularly in light of contemporary conflicts that present cold-weather challenges, such as the war in Ukraine.
Rund’s work has undergone rigorous testing, with three iterations of the rescue system evaluated in various environments.
Medics tested the sled during a Special Operations exercise in Fairbanks in February, gathering invaluable feedback from both military and civilian medical experts, including Dr. Trevor Scott.
Scott assisted in the testing by strapping the sled to his waist and running laps across the snow-covered field, aptly demonstrating the sled’s functionality.
Emily Johnston, a physician who teaches cold-weather medical operations for the military, has also provided input on the sled’s design.
She asserts that Rund’s innovation will significantly improve cold-weather rescues, whether on a battlefield in Siberia or a glacier in Alaska.
Johnston remarked, “No question about it. It is leaps and bounds ahead of most of the rescue sleds that we use right now.”
Furthermore, she pointed out that existing rescue practices involve wrapping patients in blankets and tarps while strapping them into rigid sleds, which can lead to thermal problems due to cold transfer through the plastic.
In contrast, Rund’s sled effectively insulates the patient, which can prove crucial for extended evacuations in harsh weather.
“It’s just so hard to keep the patient warm in those situations,” Johnston noted.
The technology’s lightweight and compact nature also opens opportunities for outdoor rescues in various environments.
Johnston expressed excitement over the possibilities, stating, “This would be great, because you don’t have toboggans staged in areas like that. There’s just too much terrain.”
The sled’s self-inflating capability is touted as a significant advantage for backcountry and mountain rescue operations.
Rund has filed a patent for the CASEVAC Arctic rescue system, and he anticipates that the military and its allies could begin ordering the technology as soon as next year.
This emerging innovation represents not just a stride forward for military operations in cold climates, but also a potential evolution in rescue methods for civilians in challenging outdoor settings.
image source from：https://alaskapublic.org/news/health/2025-05-30/alaska-army-major-invents-arctic-system-for-cold-weather-rescue-and-medical-treatment
