ROPE RESCUE TRAINING
TRAINING NOTEBOOK
Is your department capable of performing a rope rescue? Does it have the equipment, training, and ability to attempt such an operation and be successful? If not, then who in your area does? Let’s look at some of the training and equipment you might need.
TRAINING
Do your members receive regular training in the care, maintenance, and uses of rope, especially lifelines? Are members proficient in knots and rigging techniques? Do they understand and are they up to date on technical rescue operations, or are you still rely ing on somebody who may or may not remember what he learned 20 years ago? Have your EMS personnel received any rope training, and have they ever drilled in rope rescue scenarios?
Many excellent training programs at every level are available throughout the I’nited States. All departments should have some members trained in rope rescue operations. If your budget is tight, send one or two people for such training. If there is a target hazard in your community, such as a plant or a mill, contact the owners and explain your financial limitations; perhaps they can help fond your training or equipment needs. At the very least, pick up a text and refresh your memory. A copy of NFPA 1983, Standard on Fire Serrice Life Safety Rope, Harness, and Hardware, should be required reading for all rescue officers.
At one time, simply knowing howto rappel was the extent of many firefighters’ rope skills. Today, knowing how to use such devices as a rappel rack, a figure eight, a seat harness, ascenders, and pulleys should be considered basic for the firefighter expected to perform a rope rescue operation, whether it be confined space or a high line. Firefighters should be just as proficient in building a mechanical advantage hauling system as they are in forcing a door. Keeping a manual or set of diagrams on the rig is helpful to refresh memories, as such rescues are not that common.
Since many technical rescues may require the medical stabilization of the victim prior to removal, EMS personnel should be proficient in and comfortable around ropes. Lowering untrained, inexperienced personnel to the victim only increases the chances of having to perform another rescue.
When working in any confined space or shaft, air monitoring is important. Personnel must be able to use and interpret air-monitoring devices. When there is the least bit of doubt as to the condition of the atmosphere or the presence of toxic gases, personnel must wear SCBA or supplied air respirators. Again, personnel must train for such scenarios.
How will you gain access to the victim? Rappelling generally is considered to be the least acceptable method of reaching the victim, although conditions may dictate its use. Lowering the rescuer is much safer and allows the rescuer to use both hands if needed. In addition, it is easier to stop the rescuer if an unforeseen problem should arise. A lowering system quickly can be converted to a hauling system if necessary —again, provided you have trained personnel. Whether rappelling or lowering, the use of a safety line is strongly recommended and encouraged. Field conditions maydictate otherwise, but in many technical rope rescues, time is not as critical a factor as in a fire situation.
EQUIPMENT
Do you have enough pulley’s, anchor straps, descenders, carabiners, racks, and so on to do the job? Are vour ropes long enough? Is all your equipment the proper size and rating according to NFPA 1983?
When trying to decide what to purchase, stick to the basics, and plan for your worst scenarios. For instance, lowering a stokes basket with two attendants involves quite a bit of equipment. And consider that two single pulleys will do the same job as a double pulley—and you can use them individually when necessary. Many departments spend hard-to-get money on fancy items, when simpler pieces of equipment combined with a little training will do. For departments with tight budgets, rigging two ladders to form an A-frame and building a mechanical advantage system using pulleys and carabiners may be preferable to a more expensive tripod and pulley system.
Are your personnel able to recognize good anchor points and rig them? Have you trained in using the equipment and apparatus available? Aerial ladders and platforms make excellent high points for confined-space rescues, provided they are stabilized and not overextended. Rope with the same rating or greater than that needed or used in the system may be utilized to extend or create anchor points. Rub pads always should be used wherever the rope may be damaged as it passes over an object. Finally, remember that NFFA 1983 says that any rope used in a rescue operation must be new and unused and must be destroyed on completion of the rescue. Rope used for training must have accurate rope history records and if shock-loaded in any way should be taken out of service. Rope is extremely cheap, especially when compared with the consequences and costs of neglect.
Technical rescue has become more of a discipline in the fire service and less of an art —and rightfully so. Fire service personnel, especially those expected to perform such operations, must keep up with current procedures and training. Proper training and equipment will help ensure a successful operation.
