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High Angle/Technical Rescue
Any tips for getting started with High Angle or Technical Rescue. I have some experience with Rappelling and Rock Climbing. I am looking for a Class in or around Michigan. My department covers approximately 6 miles of river bank that is a very steep grade and approximately 75 ft high. We also have several Large apartment complexes and are auto-aided to two High Rise buildings.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rescue 2 Training on
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Give me an e-mail at rescue-2@comcast.net. I might be able to help you out.
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Permalink Reply by Russ on
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i am assuming that your department has no Rope Rescue (RR) capability and i would suggest you become familiar with the NFPA's standard on rope rescue as a start. RR is a major cash investment for your department and you should be prepaired for a fight because the question will be asked, "when was the last time we needed rope rescue?" (please dont say we rappelled during open house)...so you'd better be redy for that. i sold RR to my department in stages. first i obtained a basic capability in terms of being able to lower and raise a firefighter in full gear to make a rescue. (rappelling is a tool in rope rescue, not the solution for every rescue) second, i eased interested parties into advanced RR. from there we built on what we alredy had and after 3 years we had what we needed...NOW on to the darker side...i have observed something i call the politics of rope rescue and it started like this, using my state(FL) as an example, the state fire college does not "certify" anyone in RR, so anyone that gets any training in RR usually gets anointed as an "expert". since i didnt go to the SFC for my training, i learned basic and advanced from a department that had an established team. then i had to but heads with guys that had been to the fire college and thought that their training was superior. we disagreed over a proceedure that I and several "national experts" said was wrong. i was accused of violating department regs by soliciting outside advice without approval. i ended up winning but i told the chief i was interested only in stopping an unsafe proceedure because what they were doing was using a rope rescue device in a manor inconsistant with its intended design. it caused alot of bad blood and i tried to play the victory down and let it go. being a good RR tech is remembering learning RR is a process that required continious learning because things change. my best advise is to get basic training in RR from a good source and remember, rope rescue is dangerous and one mistake will be your last. safety, safety, safety...i welcome any comments to this post and good luck
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Permalink Reply by Mike "Lapo" Lapotasky on
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Rope my friend...ROPE. IT IS ESSENTIAL...and at the core of all rescue aspects. Start there!
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