2025 | Student

MUSE Design Awards Silver Winner

Universal Stretcher + – Modular Emergency Transport System

Entrant Company

Pratt Institute

Category

Product Design - Student Design

Client's Name

Country / Region

United States

Universal Stretcher is a modular, low-cost emergency transport solution designed for disaster, conflict, and resource-limited regions. Inspired by real-world fieldwork and humanitarian challenges, this stretcher empowers both professionals and civilians to deliver fast, flexible rescue in places where ambulances cannot reach.

Unlike traditional stretchers that require trained teams and full-size vehicles, Universal Stretcher mounts directly onto bicycles and motorcycles using simple clamp attachments. It can also be folded out for manual carrying by two people or used as a wheeled trolley. The design enables a single rescuer to deploy it in seconds—even without formal training.

Made of bent metal tubing and bicycle-compatible components, the stretcher is optimized for low-cost mass production and local repair. It folds flat in six steps and stacks efficiently, making it ideal for stockpiling, rapid deployment, and distribution by NGOs or government agencies. The platform supports multiple use modes, including civilian-to-civilian rescue during early response periods.

Through rapid prototyping, CAD modeling, and ergonomic testing, the product has been refined across several iterations. Scenarios simulated in post-earthquake ruins, typhoon-hit roads, and tornado-damaged rural areas reveal its adaptability to both urban and remote terrain. Visual evidence and field testing demonstrate its effectiveness in real-world conditions.

In a time of growing climate disasters and global crises, Universal Stretcher offers an inclusive, scalable, and culturally neutral alternative to conventional rescue gear. By combining universal compatibility, affordability, and human-centered design, this product gives local responders and neighbors the ability to save lives—one trip at a time.

Credits

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