Rope Rescue Training Intro
Rope Rescue Training Intro
Rope Rescue Training Intro
Rope Rescue
Julius Horvath
26 April 2002
[email protected]
Training Objectives
Familiarize AVFRD Personnel to
Technical Rope Rescue
Training Agenda
Overview of Technical Rescue
Equipment Basics: Uses, Capabilities &
Limitations
Hardware
Personnel
020426 Intro to Rope Rescue
Training Notes
Variety of methods may be employed in
Technical Rope Rescue
Technical Rescue
Technical Rescue is inherently dangerous and
requires many hours of training and practice before it
is attempted by anyone. This course is designed to
familiarize personnel with how they can effectively
work in a supporting role during a technical or semitechnical rescue operation. It is not designed to
prepare the student for performing rescue operations
without the supervision of a Rope Rescue Technician.
Students of this course should obtain additional
training including extensive practice in High Angle
Rope Rescue.
the weight of the litter is supported primarily by the rope rather then
the tender
Safety Factors
Harnesses = 10:1
NFPA
Software
Ropes
Knots
Webbing
Slings
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11
12
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Rope Categories
Category I Safe for emergency operations
Unused
< 5 years old
Inspected at least quarterly & documented
Conforms to NFPA #1995
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Knot Terminology
Bight formed when the rope is doubled back, but does not
cross
Loop formed when the rope doubles back and crosses
itself
Working End end of rope used to tie knot; inactive end
Standing End part of rope attached to something, usually
an anchor
Knot generic term for any knot that is not a hitch or bend
Bend knot that connects ends of 2 ropes together
Hitch knot that attaches rope to another object (including
another rope if host rope is not part of the knot)
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Rule of Knots
A Knot is not a Knot until it is Tied Off
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Overhand Knot
This simple knot and
its cousin the barrel
knot can be used to
back up another
knot. All knots
should be backed
up.
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Square Knot
Uses
Seat Harness
Cautions
Wrong = Granny
Knot
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Bowline
Uses
Pros
Cons
Cautions
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Figure-8 Knot
Basic must know
knot for rescue work
Good stopper knot
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Figure-8 Bend/
Follow Through
Bend
Figure-8 Loop or
Figure-8 on a Bight
Uses
Pros
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Butterfly Knot
Used to tie loop in
middle of rope
where ends carry
load
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Double
Fishermans Knot
Used to make Prusik
loops
Very secure with
minimum size
Self locking
One of few knots
not requiring back
up (but must be set
tight)
020426 Intro to Rope Rescue
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Prusik Hitch
Friction Knot used as
soft rope grab
on Rescue Rope
6 & 7mm Prusiks good
for personal use
020426 Intro to Rope Rescue
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Girth Hitch
Quick way to tie web loop
around anchor point
Con:
Pro:
Cautions:
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Clove Hitch
Good gripping knot
Wrapping a litter
Tying PT into litter
Improvised low angle
harness to head of
plastic litter rail
Securing Firefighter
tools and ladders
Must back up with
safety knot if loaded
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Munter Hitch
Used with carabiner for
single person belays
Effective in both
directions
Works best with pear
shaped carabiner & soft
rope
Used in Load Release
Hitch
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Water Knot
Ties webbing
together or single
piece into a loop
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Sheet Bend
Used to tie two ropes of
different thickness
together
Good for hauling
equipment bags
Pro: easy to untie
Con: not rescue capable
Cautions: do not use as
Lifeline
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Hardware
Carabiners
Shapes
Oval
Pear
D
Offset or Modified D
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Hardware (cont)
Descenders
Figure 8 Descender
Brake Bars
Pulleys
Anchor Plates
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Hardware (cont)
Rope Grabs & Ascenders
Mechanical Ascenders
Gibbs
Rescuecender
Handled Ascenders (e.g., Jumar)
Equipment Bags
Helmets & Safety Gear
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Basic Gear
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Lowering System
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Raising System
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Litter Packaging
Protect Patient
Allow PT Access
Secure PT to Litter
Secure Litter to Yoke
Secure Yoke to Lifeline
Rescuer/Tender always
secured to system
Number of Litter
Tenders depend on type
of rescue
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Support Roles
Know all rescue equipment by name, sight and
location
Be able & willing to retrieve equipment
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Wrap-up
Rescue Standards
Loads
Types of equipment
Knots
Hardware Overview
Tour of RE6 equipment locations
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References
1. High Angle Rescue Techniques; Vines & Hudson; 1992 National
Association for Search & Rescue
2. On Rope; Padgett & Smith; 1987 National Speleological Society
3. CMC Rope Rescue Manual, 3rd Edition; 1992 CMC Rescue Inc.
4. Heavy & Tactical Rescue: Rope Rescue I; 1992 Virginia Department of
Fire Programs
5. Knots on the Web; Peter Suber;
http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/knotlink.htm
6. Appalachian Search & Rescue Conference; Blue Ridge Mountain Search
& Rescue website; http://brmrg.med.virginia.edu/index.html
7. Field Team Leader Course: Technical Rescue; Harrison & Horvath; 1992
Appalachian Search & Rescue Conference, Shenandoah Mountain
Rescue Group
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