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Introduction to Technical

Rope Rescue

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Objectives (1 of 4)

• Identify the need for rope rescue equipment and the application of rope rescue skills at a rescue operation.

• Recognize and identify fall hazards and other hazards commonly found at rope rescue incidents.

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Objectives (2 of 4)

• Identify various types of rescue incidents that require rope rescue equipment and rope rescue skills.

• Describe the rope rescue resources needed to conduct various search and rescue operations.

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Objectives (3 of 4)

• Describe response planning and incident management requirements related to a search and rescue incident that requires rope rescue teams.

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Objectives (4 of 4)

• Describe site control operations at a high-angle rescue incident.

• Describe non-entry rescue considerations at a high-angle rescue incident.

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Rope Rescue Incidents

• Involve victims trapped or injured in normally inaccessible locations– Mountainside– Outside high-rise building

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Awareness Level Responsibilities

• Knowing different elements involved in technical rope rescue

• Isolating the incident

• Protecting victim from further harm

• Recognizing need for and summoning specialized rescue resources

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Low-Angle Rope Rescue (1 of 2)

• Slope of ground over which rescuers are working less than 45 degrees

• Ground provides rescuers primary support.

• Rope system provides secondary means of support.

• Type of ground surface may complicate

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Low-Angle Rope Rescue (2 of 2)

© Keith D. Cullom

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High-Angle Rope Rescue (1 of 3)

• Slope of surface over which rescuers working exceeds 45 degrees

• Rope system is primary load-carrying support system. – Rope supports rescuers’ load. – Rope may be entire load-carrying support

system.

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High-Angle Rope Rescue (2 of 3)

• May require different types of equipment depending on situation

• Victims may be suffering life-threatening illness or traumatic injury.

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High-Angle Rope Rescue (3 of 3)

Courtesy of Robert Rhea

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Fall Protection Has Two Meanings

1. System of rope hardware and software used to protect workers from falling from elevated position

2. Equipment to which workers are attached while working at elevations

or near fall hazard; equipment meant to capture them should they fall

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Rope Rescue System

• Constructed system consisting of rope rescue equipment and appropriate anchor system intended for use in rescue of subject

• Use requires rescue teams or individuals trained to use equipment

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Rope Rescue at Construction Site

• Victims may be in variety of locations.

• Responders must use personal protective equipment.

• Numerous and varied hazards.– Examples: fall hazards, falling materials or

debris, unstable footing, excessive noise

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Rope Rescue in Industrial Settings

• May require rope rescue mechanical advantage systems

• Require responders to use personal protective equipment

• Contain numerous and varied hazards:– Examples: exposure hazardous materials,

confined spaces, machinery entrapment, noise

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Mechanical Advantage Systems (1 of 2)

• Require descent and control techniques to move victims

• Create leverage force through use of levers, pulleys, gearing: – Mechanical advantage expressed as ratio of

output force to input force

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Mechanical Advantage Systems (2 of 2)

Courtesy of Robert Womer/Rock-N-Rescue

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Rope Rescue in Rural Setting (1 of 2)

• May include recreational climbers who have fallen down cliffs, hills, rock faces

• May require entry into caves or mines

• Necessitates trained, specialized rescue teams to build and operate rope rescue systems

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Rope Rescue in Rural Setting (2 of 2)

© Greg Epperson/ShutterStock, Inc.

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Examples of Other Settings

• Stranded window washer

• Transportation accidents where vehicle goes over embankment

• Building collapse events

• Swiftwater rescue

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Applicable Standards

• NFPA 1006, Standard for Technical Rescuer Professional Qualifications

• NFPA 1670, Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents

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Hardware (1 of 2)

• Rigid, mechanical auxiliary equipment• Examples include:

– Anchor plates– Carabiners– Mechanical ascent control devices – Descent control devices– Pulleys – Specialty devices

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Hardware (2 of 2)

Courtesy of Donald Carek/Karl Kuemmerling, Inc. Courtesy of Skedco, Inc.

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Software (1 of 2)

• Flexible fabric components of rope rescue equipment

• Examples include:– Rope– Accessory cordage– Webbing– Anchor straps– Harnesses

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Software (2 of 2)

Courtesy of Skedco, Inc.

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Equipment Safety Standards

• NFPA 1983, Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services

• Protect all rope rescue equipment from damage during storage, training, and rescue operations.

• Inspect regularly• Remove damaged equipment from

service.

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Examples of Specialized Equipment (1 of 2)

• Portable anchor devices:– Tripods, bipods, Larkin Frames

• A-frame devices – Arizona Vortex

• Edge protection

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Examples of Specialized Equipment (2 of 2)

Courtesy of Spelean Pty Ltd, Artarmon, Australia

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Rescue Team Resources

• Requires specially trained personnel or teams and unique training and skills to use rope rescue tools and equipment correctly and to build and operate rope rescue systems safely

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Rope Rescue Techniques

• Establishing anchor systems and fall protection

• Building and operating lowering systems

• Building and operating mechanical advantage systems

• Building and using high-line systems

• Ascending rope

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Awareness Level Responsibilities

• Recognize hazards at incident.

• Secure the scene.

• Call for appropriate assistance and resources, including crossed-trained rescue teams.

• Not properly trained to operate rope rescue equipment or to use techniques

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EMS Resources

• Required for patient hand off by rescue team for treatment and transport to medical facilities

• High-angle rope rescue victims may be suffering from traumatic injuries, other medical emergencies..

• ALS required to treat fall victims effectively.

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Strategic Objectives (1 of 2)

• Evaluate scene, identify potential victims and locations.

• Initiate operations to minimize hazards to operating personnel and trapped victims.

• Search the area.

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Strategic Objectives (2 of 2)

• Rescue and remove trapped victims.

• Minimize further injury to victims during process.

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Required ICS Positions

• Incident commander (IC)

• Technical rescue group supervisor

• Safety officer

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Technical Rescue Group Supervisor (1 of 2)

• Hazard mitigation

• Entry team readiness

• Rapid intervention capabilities

• Emergency medical patient care

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Technical Rescue Group Supervisor (2 of 2)

Courtesy of Mike Moore/FEMA

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Incident Action Plan (IAP)

• Identifies overall control objectives for emergency

• Includes necessary specialized resources

• Includes necessary specialized personnel

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Response Planning

• Responders must know how to initiate emergency response system to ensure appropriate resources are deployed and operational guidelines initiated correctly.

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Needs Assessment

• Possible emergencies requiring rope rescue

• Possible hazards • Types of emergency response resources

or special assets required• Capability assessment of agency

personnel • Other available resources

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Hazards and Hazard Assessment

• Personnel must be well trained to recognize and understand the hazards they may encounter to protect them from being injured or killed.

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Scene Assessment

• Assess rescue environment hazards before a rope rescue.

• Hazards vary, depending on the primary cause of emergency.

• Responders must recognize need for specialized resources, know personal limitations.

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On-Scene Hazards to Rescue Personnel (1 of 2)

• Fall hazard

• Falling debris

• Bystanders, onlookers, friends, co-workers

• Industrial setting hazards

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On-Scene Hazards to Rescue Personnel (2 of 2)

Courtesy of Robert Rhea

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Rescue Situation in Industrial Setting (1 of 2)

• May expose rescuers to energy hazards:– Electrical wires– Hydraulic fluids– Steam lines– Operating machinery

• Requires identification and control

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Rescue Situation in Industrial Setting (2 of 2)

Courtesy of Robert Rhea

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Basic Hazard Mitigation (1 of 2)

• Controlling site prior to arrival of trained rope rescue teams

• Using barrier tape to establish edge control

• Using proper fall protection when going near edge

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Basic Hazard Mitigation (2 of 2)

© Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Photographed by Glen E. Ellman.

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Site Control Includes (1 of 2)

• Creating general area within 300 feet (91.4 m) of event

• Removing unnecessary bystanders from operational area

• Establishing physical barrier at least 100 feet (30.5 m) from operational area

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Site Control Includes (2 of 2)

• Controlling traffic

• Eliminating vibration sources

• Identifying and monitoring existing hazards within physical barrier

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Basic Rescue Procedures (1 of 2)

• Assess scene.

• Gather information and locate victim.

• Communicate with victim, if possible.

• Gain access to patient.

• Secure patient with rope system.

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Basic Rescue Procedures (2 of 2)

• Package the patient.

• Attach the patient to rope rescue system for removal.

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Role of Awareness Level Rescuers

• Moving tools and equipment

• Securing perimeter

• Helping operate haul systems

• Transferring patients

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BLS Patient Care Includes (1 of 2)

• Establishing and maintaining adequate airway

• Providing respiratory ventilation

• Controlling severe bleeding

• Maintaining circulatory system

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BLS Patient Care Includes (2 of 2)

• Ensuring spinal immobilization, if necessary

• Treating for shock, if necessary

• Following local medical protocols

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Patient Movement

• Should be performed safely and efficiently while limiting further injury to patient

• Requires adequate numbers of rescuers to avoid injury to patient or rescuers

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Summary (1 of 2)

• Rescuers must recognize different types of rescue environments and associated hazards.

• High-angle rope rescue requires specialized resources and rope rescue teams.

• Responders must know where to acquire resources to perform successful rope rescues.

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Summary (2 of 2)

• Rope rescue hazards include fall hazards, falling debris, energy hazards, environmental hazards, and crowd control issues.

• Hazard mitigation efforts are required prior to rescue.

• Awareness level responders should not attempt to access or remove a patient in situations where fall protection is required.