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General product and standards information for labs, clinics and facility safety staff. It is not medical advice and not training in patient handling or rescue technique.
Short answer
A Stokes basket is a rescue stretcher with a raised, basket-shaped frame that holds a person on all sides so they can be carried, lowered or raised over rough or confined routes. “Stokes litter”, “basket litter” and “basket stretcher” all name the same kind of device. Current litter requirements sit in NFPA 1983, which was incorporated into the 2022 edition of NFPA 2500, and a compliant litter carries a load-limit label and a certification label.
Definition and scope: what is a Stokes basket?
Fire Engineering’s “Basket Litter Basics” says the rescue basket is “also referred to as a stokes litter” and that the basket litter “was used extensively during World War II” to remove victims from collapsed buildings. It is an older trade article that cites the 1990 edition of NFPA 1983 as the latest, so it is used here only for the general description and the settings, not for current requirements.
The same name appears under several product names. Ferno describes its Titan stainless-steel rescue litter as “a complete rethinking of the classic Stokes military-style stretcher” and sells it as a basket stretcher. A Stokes basket is therefore a category of rescue litter, not a single product and is a different kind of equipment from a flat backboard. For backboards and stretchers more broadly see the backboards and stretchers guide.
How a basket litter is used in practice
Fire Engineering lists confined-space rescue, removal from an elevated area such as a rooftop, and trench rescue among the situations a basket litter is chosen for. These are rescue settings.
The manufacturer’s own manual sets the limits on use. The CMC Rescue Litters User’s Manual (TR160v01.1) states that the equipment “has been designed and manufactured for use by experienced professionals only”, tells readers not to use it without prior training, and to use only manufacturer-approved items and the litter “only as-sold”. This page gives no handling or loading steps; those belong to trained rescuers following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Types and materials
Fire Engineering names the familiar steel-framed wire basket and the newer polyethylene basket built around a metal frame. Manufacturer documentation describes current forms in more detail.
| Construction (as described by the source) | Source |
|---|---|
| Steel-framed wire basket (traditional) and polyethylene basket around a metal frame (newer) | Fire Engineering, “Basket Litter Basics” (older trade article) |
| Stainless-steel (SS) frame models: tapered, rectangular, split-apart; titanium (TI) models: tapered, split-apart; high-density polyethylene netting | CMC Rescue Litters User’s Manual TR160v01.1 |
| Two-piece stainless frame with replaceable HDPE netting and a UHMW-PE back support; 212 x 62 x 19 cm and 15.1 kg for the regular size | Ferno, Titan stainless-steel rescue litter, 2-piece regular |
One measured comparison from the CMC manual: its stainless models list 30 lb (14 kg) and 33 lb (15 kg, split-apart), while its titanium models list 14 lb (6.3 kg) and 17.5 lb (7.5 kg, split-apart). All of these share the same rated load limit of 2,500 lbf (11 kN). The figures are CMC’s and apply to those models only.
Where it matters for labs, clinics and supply decisions
For any facility that holds a rescue litter, manufacturer documentation points to three things to look at: a standard, a label, and a record. Related pages cover the surrounding preparedness items: the lab safety equipment checklist, the research core facility first aid checklist and the emergency trauma response kit guide.
Standards lineage
Ferno states its litter is “designed to surpass the US Military specification MIL-L-37957A” and “tested to and beyond a 1,134 kg (2500 lb) static load test threshold”. CMC’s manual states its litters “meet the litter requirements of NFPA 1983, incorporated in the 2022 edition of NFPA 2500”. These are different kinds of statement: one is a manufacturer’s design claim against a military specification, the other is a statement of conformance to a consensus standard, repeated on the litter’s certification label (“NFPA 2500 (1983), 2022 ed.”).
A records and label check drawn from the manufacturer’s manual
| Item | What the CMC manual says |
|---|---|
| Load-limit label | Affixed to the litter; the example label reads 1,134 kg / 2,500 lb |
| Certification label | Affixed to the litter; the example reads NFPA 2500 (1983), 2022 ed. |
| User information | NFPA 1983 recommends keeping it separate from the equipment as a permanent record, keeping a copy with the equipment, and referring to it before and after each use |
| After a drop, damage or impact load | Return the litter to the manufacturer or a qualified inspection person or centre |
| Cleaning | Follow the manual’s cleaning and disinfecting instructions, in line with OSHA bloodborne-disease requirements; see the bloodborne pathogens standard in research laboratories |
| Worn labels | Replace worn or damaged labels immediately; replacements come from the manufacturer |
Common misunderstandings
- “Stokes litter” and “basket stretcher” are different products. They are different names for the same category.
- 2,500 lb is a universal rating. Fire Engineering notes that some basket litters are rated at 2,500 lb and tells readers to check the manufacturer’s rating. The rated load is a figure on each litter’s label.
- Polyethylene baskets can be repainted. Fire Engineering says never to repaint polyethylene baskets, as paint may damage the shell.
- A litter is general first-aid kit equipment. The manufacturer limits use to experienced professionals with prior training.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Stokes basket?
A Stokes basket, also called a Stokes litter, basket litter or basket stretcher, is a rescue stretcher with a raised basket-shaped frame. It is built for moving a person through confined, vertical or rough settings. Current litter requirements are in NFPA 1983 as incorporated in NFPA 2500 (2022 edition).
Is a Stokes litter the same as a basket stretcher?
Yes. Fire Engineering says the rescue basket is “also referred to as a stokes litter”, and manufacturers such as Ferno market the modern version as a basket stretcher.
What standard covers rescue litters?
CMC states its litters meet the litter requirements of NFPA 1983, incorporated in the 2022 edition of NFPA 2500. Ferno separately states its litter is designed to surpass US Military specification MIL-L-37957A.
Sources
- CMC Rescue Litters User’s Manual TR160v01.1 (PDF), cmcpro.com, checked 1 November 2026: cmcpro.com user manual
- Ferno, Titan stainless-steel rescue litter, 2-piece regular, product page, checked 1 November 2026: ferno.com product page
- Fire Engineering, “Basket Litter Basics” (older trade article), checked 1 November 2026: fireengineering.com article
