BuddyStrap Injured Personnel Carrier: When and How to Use It

Quick answer

Use the Agilite BuddyStrap when you must move an injured person alone, hands-free, and cannot carry bulky rescue equipment. Don it over your plate carrier, route the straps so the casualty's weight sits high on your back, and move in short, controlled intervals. It is a carry aid, not a substitute for medical care or a litter when more rescuers are available.

When a one-person casualty carry is the right call

The BuddyStrap was originally designed for tier 1 special forces units operating deep behind enemy lines in small teams that cannot carry bulky rescue equipment. That origin tells you the intended use case: you are alone or nearly alone, you need both hands free, and the alternative is leaving the casualty in place. Civilian applications exist too, but the same logic applies. If you have two or more rescuers and a litter, use the litter. If you have a vehicle and a safe route, use the vehicle. The strap fills the gap when none of those options are available.

• Good fit: solo movement, short distances, hands needed for a weapon, radio, or door.
• Poor fit: suspected spinal injury without immobilization, long distances, or any situation where a litter and extra hands are within reach.
• Checkpoint: confirm the casualty can be moved before you commit. If you are unsure, stabilize and call for help.

Donning the strap over body armor

The BuddyStrap is designed to work with your existing setup, including a plate carrier. Put it on so the load path runs across your shoulders and upper back rather than your neck. The strap should sit tight enough that the casualty's weight does not shift, but loose enough that you can still shoulder a weapon or reach a radio. If you are wearing a plate carrier, route the strap so it does not interfere with your magazine pouches or your ability to drop the carrier if needed. Practice donning it with gloves on before you need it.

• Common mistake: wearing the strap too low, which pulls the casualty's weight onto your lower back and makes the carry harder to control.
• Checkpoint: do a quick tug test. If the strap slides when you lean forward, tighten it before you load the casualty.

Loading and securing the casualty

Position the casualty so their weight is centered and high on your back, not dragging at your waist. The goal is to keep your center of gravity predictable. If the casualty is conscious, tell them what you are doing and ask them to hold on if they can. If they are unconscious, you will need to manage their limbs so they do not catch on obstacles. The BuddyStrap is designed to let you carry an injured person on your own, easily and hands-free, but it does not make an uncooperative or much heavier casualty weightless. Adjust your pace and route accordingly.

• Common mistake: loading the casualty too low, which forces you to lean forward and tires your back quickly.
• Checkpoint: once loaded, take three steps in place. If the load shifts, stop and readjust before moving.

Moving under load and managing fatigue

Move in short intervals. Pick a visible point, move to it, reassess, and continue. Keep your steps short and your breathing controlled. If you have a partner, alternate carrying and security. If you are alone, use cover and concealment and avoid unnecessary exposure. The strap keeps your hands free, but it does not make you faster or quieter. Plan your route around obstacles you can step over rather than around, because turning with a casualty on your back is where most people lose balance.

• Common mistake: trying to move at a jog. A controlled walk with short steps is more sustainable and less likely to end in a fall.
• Checkpoint: if you cannot speak a short sentence without gasping, slow down.

Transferring care and doffing the strap

When you reach a safer point or link up with medical support, transfer the casualty carefully. Lower them to a stable position before you doff the strap. Do not try to remove the strap while the casualty is still on your back. Once the casualty is handed off, inspect the strap for wear and stow it so it is ready for the next use. If the strap was exposed to blood or bodily fluids, clean it according to the manufacturer's guidance before storing it with your gear.

• Common mistake: rushing the transfer and dropping the casualty. Control the descent.
• Checkpoint: after handoff, confirm the strap is still serviceable and repack it in the same place so you can find it under stress.

Step-by-step: deploying the BuddyStrap

1. Assess the situation: Confirm you are alone or that no litter, vehicle, or extra hands are available. Check the casualty for immediate life threats and decide whether movement is safe. If you are unsure about spinal injury or the casualty's condition, stabilize and call for help instead of carrying.
2. Don the strap over your gear: Put the BuddyStrap on over your plate carrier or clothing. Route the load path across your shoulders and upper back, not your neck. Tighten it so it will not shift under weight. Do a tug test before loading the casualty. If the strap slides, tighten it.
3. Load the casualty high and centered: Position the casualty so their weight sits high on your back. If they are conscious, have them hold on. If not, manage their limbs to avoid snags. Take three steps in place. If the load shifts, readjust before moving.
4. Move in controlled intervals: Walk with short steps. Pick a point, move to it, reassess, and continue. Keep your hands free for balance, a weapon, or a radio. If you cannot speak a short sentence without gasping, slow down.
5. Transfer and doff: At the handoff point, lower the casualty to a stable position before removing the strap. Inspect the strap and stow it for next use. Clean the strap if it was exposed to bodily fluids, then repack it where you can find it under stress.

Product facts

• BuddyStrap™ Injured Personnel Carrier: The Agilite BuddyStrap is a life saving emergency device that allows you to carry an injured person on your own, easily and hands free. This is the core capability: solo, hands-free movement of a casualty when no other extraction option is available.
• BuddyStrap™ Injured Personnel Carrier: It was originally designed for tier 1 special forces units who go deep behind enemy lines in small teams and cannot carry bulky rescue equipment. The design priority is portability and solo use, not replacing a litter or a full rescue team.
• BuddyStrap™ Injured Personnel Carrier: Although the requirement came from the military, the BuddyStrap has numerous civilian applications. It can be a practical tool for prepared civilians, range staff, or anyone who may need to move an injured person alone.