Water Survival 929 Practice Test

Placing a pad on top of the chest distributes the casualty’s weight across a larger, softer area and cushions the chest where the litter frame or straps could press. This protects the sternum and ribs from pressure points and helps keep the chest free to expand for breathing during transport. It also helps keep the torso stable and aligned as you carry the casualty. A pad on the head, a shoulder, or under the knees wouldn’t protect the chest or distribute the load effectively, and could misalign or destabilize the casualty during movement.