Collapsible, lightweight, and easy-to-assemble litters for transporting injured or incapacitated persons are disclosed. For example, a collapsible apparatus for transporting persons includes a frame assembly having a pair of frame rails. Each frame rail includes at least two telescoping rods connected by a hinge that can be configured to allow the frame rails to be folded upon each other. The collapsible apparatus can additionally include one or more collapsible tension rods secured to the pair of frame rails for selectively maintaining a lateral displacement of the pair of frame rails when the frame assembly is in an assembled configuration and a stretcher bed carried by the frame assembly that is configured to receive and support a person between the pair of frame rails when the frame assembly is in the assembled configuration.
