Abstract: A split-apart basket stretcher and its corresponding rail coupling and lock, where the stretcher has first and second portions for mounting in opposed facing relation to one another, and the rail coupling and lock releasably locks the first and second portions together in their opposed facing relation using a threaded slidable collet on the end of at least one rail of the first portion. The collet threads onto the end of at least one corresponding rail of the second portion. A spring loaded pin prevents the collet from unthreading until the pin is manually depressed.

Abstract: A pair of carabiner mounting members are rigidly mounted or mountable to each top rail of a basket rescue stretcher. The carabiner mounting members are mounted or mountable spaced longitudinally apart along the each top rail. Carabiner mounting member extend at least into the stretcher cavity and define a carabiner receiving opening which lies in a first plane which is perpendicular to a vertical second plane containing the corresponding top rail to which the carabiner mounting member is mounted or mountable and which is inclined relative to a horizontal third plane which contains the pair of top rails on opposite sides of the stretcher so that at least the carabiner mounting members which extend into the stretcher cavity are substantially co-planar with their corresponding tether straps when the stretcher is lifted by the straps.