LIFE SAVING ROPE
TWO RESCUES IN THE SKY
The FDNY Life Saving Rope (LSR) is 150 feet of 9/16-inch nylon with a hook at each end. It has a minimum breaking strength of 9,000 pounds and a workload of 600 pounds. Regulations require that the rope be used only for life-saving purposes (not for towing vehicles or moving tree limbs).
The rope is carried in a backpack carrying case for a total weight of 16 pounds (the rope is 14½ pounds, the case 1½ pounds). An anti-chafing device is carried on the rope and stored in the carrying case to protect the rope during use.
Each firefighter is equipped with a belt that has a hook with a gate/gate lock attached. The belt can be used to lower a person or to support a person being lowered.
ITie lowering and rescuing operation normally involves two firefighters. The firefighter to be lowered is secured by his life belt to the hook at the end of the rope. The other firefighter (termed the lowering man) slowly feeds the rope through the hook with the gate/gate lock on his life belt to lower the rescuer down to the victim. Usually the lowering man is separately tied off and secured to a substantial object (girder, bulkhead, etc.). This prevents him from toppling off the roof from the subsequent impact load of two people.
Much care and attention are given to the LSR assembly. As it is used only in extreme and dangerous situations, we place much importance on maintaining the rope itself. For example, we examine the rope daily and scrupulously check it weekly. Any defect, however slight, causes the rope to be taken out of service. If the rope is subjected to any strain, such as an impact load, it also is taken out of service.
