North Vancouver City Fire Department

Firefighter Down!

R.I.T. Rope RescueR.I.T. Rope Rescue

The Big ‘W’The Big ‘W’

‘‘Dirty Rescue’Dirty Rescue’

RIT Rescue – It Ain’t Meant to be Pretty

RIT Rescue and Firefighter Survival RIT Rescue and Firefighter Survival Techniques do not follow generally Techniques do not follow generally recognized performance standards recognized performance standards

These procedures are inherently These procedures are inherently dangerous by their very nature but must dangerous by their very nature but must be practiced if they are to be effectivebe practiced if they are to be effective

Seconds literally count when a firefighter Seconds literally count when a firefighter has gone through a floor or roofhas gone through a floor or roof

Attempting a Rescue from the floor below may take longer if : It happens to be the It happens to be the

fire floorfire floor The floor plan is The floor plan is

considerably different considerably different than the floor abovethan the floor above

No additional No additional resources are available resources are available on the floor belowon the floor below

The firefighter has The firefighter has fallen into a secured fallen into a secured area which may area which may require considerable require considerable forcible entryforcible entry

The downed The downed firefighter cannot be firefighter cannot be otherwise easily otherwise easily locatedlocated

RIT Rope Rescue Kit

One-Piece 65’ Static-One-Piece 65’ Static-Kermantle RopeKermantle Rope

Split Between two Split Between two BagsBags

Midline and two End Midline and two End line Figure-of-Eights line Figure-of-Eights are Linked together are Linked together for Storagefor Storage

The ‘Big W’ (It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World)

Midline ‘8’ is Anchor Endline ‘8s’ are the

Hauling Lines Remember: All Knots

Stay Topside, Just the Pulleys and Carabiners go ‘into the hole’

This system does not have to be dismantled in any way

Connect Carabiners to SCBA Shoulder Straps (CAUTION NOTE)(CAUTION NOTE)

2:1 2:1

Victim

Rescuers

Anchor

Using SCBA as a Rescue Harness

If a Firefighter is wearing SCBA, it can become an If a Firefighter is wearing SCBA, it can become an Emergency Rescue Harness for Lifting Him/Her as Emergency Rescue Harness for Lifting Him/Her as long as:long as: The SCBA Straps are not seriously compromisedThe SCBA Straps are not seriously compromised The Waist Strap is disconnected and passed The Waist Strap is disconnected and passed

between the legs (one front, one back) , between the legs (one front, one back) , reconnected and tightenedreconnected and tightened

NOTENOTE: For Training Purposes use a Class III Full : For Training Purposes use a Class III Full Body Harness ONLY. If you use our isi SCBA Body Harness ONLY. If you use our isi SCBA in this manner you will destroy the Back Packin this manner you will destroy the Back Pack

Anchoring the ‘Big W’

The Apex of the The Apex of the Top of the ‘W’ Top of the ‘W’ must be anchoredmust be anchored

This Anchor can This Anchor can be at the hole or be at the hole or away from the away from the hole but should hole but should be as high as be as high as possiblepossible

‘Live’ Anchors

This is system is This is system is based on parallel 2:1 based on parallel 2:1 Mechanical Mechanical Advantage SystemsAdvantage Systems

The ‘Live’ Anchor is The ‘Live’ Anchor is holding <50% of the holding <50% of the Static Live LoadStatic Live Load

In Tests the Live In Tests the Live Anchor felt no stressAnchor felt no stress

Live Anchors

The remote location The remote location of the Live Anchor of the Live Anchor reduces the load reduces the load around the openingaround the opening

The remote location The remote location of the Live Anchor of the Live Anchor also provides for also provides for more space to more space to remove the victimremove the victim

Hauling – Hand-Over-Hand

The two Rope-The two Rope-Haulers pull up as Haulers pull up as much rope as much rope as possiblepossible

Pull as straight-up as Pull as straight-up as possiblepossible

As the angle As the angle between the static between the static and running parts and running parts decreases, friction decreases, friction increasesincreases

Live Anchor Holds Live Load Once the Haulers Once the Haulers

have ‘Maxed Out’ have ‘Maxed Out’ they hand the they hand the haul-lines to the haul-lines to the live anchorlive anchor

The Live Anchor is The Live Anchor is easily able to easily able to support the Live support the Live loadload

Haulers Preparing to Remove Victim

Haulers grab Haulers grab harness, harness, carabiners or carabiners or whatever they can whatever they can and lift victim so and lift victim so that his/her waist that his/her waist breaks the planebreaks the plane

Live Anchor keeps Live Anchor keeps all lines as taught all lines as taught as possibleas possible

Removing the Victim

Pull the Victim Pull the Victim clear from the clear from the openingopening

Move victim away Move victim away from opening in from opening in continuous continuous movement until movement until on secure groundon secure ground

Standing ‘Live Anchor’

As per seated Live As per seated Live AnchorAnchor

Should be Should be positioned away positioned away from the edgefrom the edge

May not be as May not be as stable but does stable but does allow for some allow for some additional ‘pull’ if additional ‘pull’ if adequate footingadequate footing

NOTE: Other appropriate ropes may be tied into the anchor to provide maximum system rope at the opening of the hole

Standing ‘Live Anchor’- Close

Requires adequate Requires adequate structural stability structural stability around holearound hole

Provides for an Provides for an improvised ‘Hi-improvised ‘Hi-Point’Point’

May be able to May be able to provide additional provide additional ‘Hands-on’ for ‘Hands-on’ for victim removalvictim removal

Dual Live Anchors - Close

As per Single As per Single Standing AnchorStanding Anchor

Anchors can ‘share’ Anchors can ‘share’ heavier loadheavier load

Anchors Bend Kness Anchors Bend Kness keep back straightkeep back straight

Hauls pull in as much Hauls pull in as much line as possibleline as possible

Dual Live Anchors - Standing

Once Haulers are Once Haulers are ‘Maxed Out’ Live ‘Maxed Out’ Live Anchors rise to full Anchors rise to full standing position, standing position, this action may this action may provide an additional provide an additional foot of lift which foot of lift which allows victim to clear allows victim to clear hole to about his/her hole to about his/her kneesknees

Ladder as High-Point/Fulcrum

Obviously if Victim is Obviously if Victim is conscious and can conscious and can climb, Ladder should climb, Ladder should go IN the hole!go IN the hole!

Firefighters Firefighters supporting end of supporting end of Ladder should Ladder should crouchcrouch

Anchor to Rung on Anchor to Rung on closer end of Ladder closer end of Ladder to Firefighters to Firefighters supporting Laddersupporting Ladder

Ladder as High-Point/Fulcrum

Haulers take up Haulers take up as much line as as much line as possible to lift possible to lift trapped firefighter trapped firefighter as high as as high as possiblepossible

Ladder as High-Point/Fulcrum

Once lift is ‘maxed’ Once lift is ‘maxed’ out, two firefighters out, two firefighters holding Ladder lift holding Ladder lift Ladder as high as Ladder as high as possiblepossible

Haulers will have to Haulers will have to maintain tight maintain tight control and may control and may even lose a bit of even lose a bit of groundground

Ladder as High-Point/Fulcrum

Ladder may be Ladder may be ‘walked’ over ‘walked’ over

Foot acts as a pivot Foot acts as a pivot to drag rescued to drag rescued firefighter away from firefighter away from the holethe hole

Haulers must Haulers must maintain tight maintain tight control of lines and control of lines and can assist with drag can assist with drag or physically grab or physically grab firefighterfirefighter

Ladder High Point

Again, if the Again, if the Firefighter is able Firefighter is able to climb the to climb the ladder, even with ladder, even with assistance, that assistance, that should be the first should be the first optionoption

The “Big W” is The “Big W” is anchored High on anchored High on the Ladderthe Ladder

Ladder High Point

The Ladder is The Ladder is Positioned Straight Positioned Straight UpUp

If a RIT Member is If a RIT Member is with the Downed with the Downed Firefighter, s/he may Firefighter, s/he may support the bottom support the bottom of the ladder but the of the ladder but the extraction can be extraction can be accomplished accomplished withoutwithout

Ladder High Point

As per previous As per previous evolutions, haulers evolutions, haulers pull straight up and pull straight up and as much line as as much line as possiblepossible

Person controlling Person controlling ladder is simply ‘at ladder is simply ‘at the ready’ should the the ready’ should the ladder shift but is ladder shift but is really bearing no really bearing no weightweight

Ladder High Point

Once downed Once downed firefighter is at least firefighter is at least ‘from the waist up’ ‘from the waist up’ out of the hole, the out of the hole, the two haulers maintain two haulers maintain the rope with one the rope with one hand and physically hand and physically grab the firefighter grab the firefighter with the otherwith the other

Ladder High Point

The two firefighters The two firefighters pull the downed pull the downed firefighter back firefighter back towards themtowards them

If necessary, the If necessary, the firefighter holding firefighter holding the ladder can tilt the ladder can tilt the ladder in the the ladder in the same direction like a same direction like a fulcrumfulcrum

Ladder High Point

In every case the higher the downed In every case the higher the downed firefighter can be raised above the firefighter can be raised above the ‘plane’, the easier the actual removal ‘plane’, the easier the actual removal becomesbecomes

The final removal will always be an The final removal will always be an exercise in brute strength, therefore exercise in brute strength, therefore movements must be coordinated, movements must be coordinated, explosive and purposeful… you do not explosive and purposeful… you do not want to clear the hole by mere inches want to clear the hole by mere inches but rather by feet!but rather by feet!

Ladder as a Windlass

This involves securing both the Anchor Point and This involves securing both the Anchor Point and the Hauling Ends of the Rope to the Beams of the the Hauling Ends of the Rope to the Beams of the LadderLadder

The Ladder is then rolled, side-over-side until the The Ladder is then rolled, side-over-side until the firefighter is raised as high as possiblefirefighter is raised as high as possible

The Ladder is then lifted from either end (using an The Ladder is then lifted from either end (using an appropriate number of firefighters) to clear the appropriate number of firefighters) to clear the firefighter from the hole and move him/her to firefighter from the hole and move him/her to safety.safety.

Final Thoughts – Retrieval through a Hole

The Big ‘W’ is one option for a limited manpower The Big ‘W’ is one option for a limited manpower situation, if sufficient manpower exists a single rope or situation, if sufficient manpower exists a single rope or even a hoseline may be used to extract a firefightereven a hoseline may be used to extract a firefighter

If a firefighter is conscious and able, a ground ladder into If a firefighter is conscious and able, a ground ladder into the hole may be the quickest method, however, trying to the hole may be the quickest method, however, trying to pull an unconscious firefighter up a ladder may be pull an unconscious firefighter up a ladder may be extremely difficult versus a rope lifting methodextremely difficult versus a rope lifting method

Do not send another firefighter into a hole unless an Do not send another firefighter into a hole unless an immediate retrieval capability has been establishedimmediate retrieval capability has been established

With any lifting operation around an area of questionable With any lifting operation around an area of questionable strength/support, always use bulky material to distribute strength/support, always use bulky material to distribute loadload

Stay Safe!!