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Webbing Harness
From Jason Hoevelmann of Engine House Training, LLC
This is just a quick way to use some webbing to make a harness to remove a victim or a downed firefighter. You need at least a 20 foot piece of webbing and no more than a 30 foot piece. If it is longer it tends to just get in the way.
I will normally keep different lengths in my pockets for different uses. The one that I keep for this type of use is kept looped with a water knot.
For a victim or downed firefighter lay the webbing around the victim. Grab the webbing at the feet and pull it up between the legs. Hold it tight and grab the webbing on the sides and bring both pieces up under the arms to right over the chest. You should now have three loops, one from between the legs and two, one from each side, under the arms.
Pull the two side loops through the loop coming from between the legs and pull tight. These are your handles. Get all webbing tight and snug under the arms and between the legs.
You can now pull and drag your victim. You can also lift a victim up out of a basement window. Check out the pictures and the attached video.
To get the straps on the back of a firefighter or victim, roll them over on their front and perform the same method. You will see this in the video.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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This works, but it takes time and there are potential problems with it:
1) The nylon webbing will melt and can fail if it is dragged over coals or hot spots.
2) Ditto for very hot ambient temperatures - the nylon can fail in temps from which turnout gear will protect firefighters from the heat.
3) The webbing is vulnerable to getting entangled on debris or rubble over which the downed firefighter may be dragged.
4) if you need to take the downed firefighter out of a window, you must be able to keep the webbing tight or it can slip out of position.
Alternates to using the webbing that are quicker and less vulnerable to these problems are:
A) Use turnout coats with a Drag Rescue Device (DRD) installed. It's a simple matter of reaching to the rear of the turnout coat above the SCBA cylinder, grabbing the DRD loop, pulling it out, and starting the drag.
B) You can also use the downed firefighter's SCBA harness as a drag device. Loosen the SCBA shoulder and waist straps, slide it toward the firefighter's feet without removing it, unbuckle the waist strap, connect the waist strap between the downed firefighter's legs, cinch down the shoulder straps, then cinch down the waist strap (if necessary) You'll need a short piece of rope or webbing to complete the drag. The rope or webbing is pulled though the top opening in the SCBA backplate, girth hitched (lark's foot hitch) in place, then start the drag.
Neither the DRD nor the SCBA should be used as a vertical lifting device to get a downed firefighter out of a window except as an ultimate last resort - they're not designed for it.
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Permalink Reply by B HICKS on
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That will work. When looking at ways to achieve "rescues", you have to remember a few important factors: 1) What is the quickest, and easiest way to get a fellow FF out of immediate danger. 2) What "simple" equipment do I have with me to get the job done, quickly/safely/efficiently. 3) What have I been trained on, and "remember" under stressfull conditions.
After quite a few years in this business I still see guys trying to "over-engineer" simple situations. I always refer to the "KISS" method. Keep it simple, stupid.
Come off the truck with the tools you know you will need for your fireground assignment. Always bring 2 light sources. Wear ALL your PPE. Stay together. Listen to your radio/officer/other units radio traffic/the fire. Keep a pocket of commonly used tools. Pretie knots in webbing/rope. Know where your windows/doors/exits are at ALL times. And the most important... You will never know everything about the emergency you are on.
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