To move a responsive or unresponsive person, which drag would you use?

• A. Ankle Drag
• B. Seated Drag
• C. Blanket Drag
• D. Shoulder Drag

Answer: (C)

The idea is to move someone safely by keeping their body in a straight line and distributing your pulling force over a wide surface. The blanket drag achieves this because you can slip a blanket under the person, grab the edges, and pull them to safety without grabbing the neck or twisting the spine. This method works whether the person can help a little by holding the blanket or is completely unresponsive, since you’re simply pulling on the blanket rather than on the person’s limbs or joints. It’s quick to set up in many environments and helps protect the head, neck, and spine during the move.

Dragging by the ankles focuses force on a narrow point and tends to limit control, increasing the risk of twisting the spine. Moving someone by the shoulders involves gripping under the arms, which can strain the neck or cause spinal movement if alignment isn’t maintained. And a seated drag requires the person to be in a seated position or to be moved into one first, which isn’t always possible. The blanket drag is the more versatile and safer option for moving a person when space or hazards require relocation.