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Gloves for Rope Rescue
Two questions about the use of gloves in RR-
1) Do you wear them (I worked for one commercial training provider who taught that if you need gloves, you've lost control of the system. Control it properly and you won't need 'em...)
2) If you do wear them, what sort, brand, etc?
1) Do you wear them (I worked for one commercial training provider who taught that if you need gloves, you've lost control of the system. Control it properly and you won't need 'em...)
2) If you do wear them, what sort, brand, etc?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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We teach that if you don't wear them, you're not wearing an essential piece of gear. The philosophy is that protecting yourself from hand injuries is essential. This is regardless of friction injuries from the ropes, insulation from cold ambient temperatures, preventing injuries from any debris that may have been picked up by the rope, and handling things that can cause thermal injury to the hands such as hot or cold carabiners or other hardware. There is also a problem with heat buildup in long rappels, even if the rescuer remains in complete control. I wonder if the commercial company you're discussing has done rappels in the 600 foot plus range where this is always a problem. I'm familiar with rescue squads who have first-due long rappels in the mountain and cave environments. These squads carry spray mist bottles so that the person controlling the friction device can spray the device to help keep the metal cool. Gloves are essential gear for them.
And...if you lose control of the system, gloves give you a better chance of gaining that control back than do bare hands. Things don't always go right, regardless of the skills, ability, and experience of the rescuers.
Rope rescue gloves are required for all ops by my department, and by all training by our state fire academy rescue section. The academy provides gloves for all rope rescue and confined space rescue classes.
The fire academy issues leather PMI rappelling gloves.
My department provides plain leather work gloves, but allows us to purchase our own gloves for specialty work. I have a personal pair of Ringers rope rescue gloves.
I'd submit that a rope rescue instructor that teaches that you don't need gloves probably has very limited experience with long rappels/lowers, very cold ambient conditions, and real-world rescue conditions where exposed hands equal rescuer injury. There's certainly no scientific or regulatory evidence to back up a claim that you don't need gloves for rope rescue. -
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Permalink Reply by lutan1 on
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All good points- I'd never heard of such a practice or undertraken anything like it- but that was the company philosophy and the way that we had to teach. Thus why I was curious what others thought.
In principle, I think it's a good theory- but that in theory, not practice! (If that makes sense...) -
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Permalink Reply by Wayne on
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I think any correctly educated rope rescue instructor would strongly disagree with not wearing gloves. You need not only protect your hands but you need to keep the oils and sweat from getting into the rope. If you get the oil worked inside (the kern) it affects friction and ropes rely on friction to work after all.
Our SOG requires gloves, helmets, eyewear and long sleeves 100%... period.
We are allowed to wear mechanic's gloves with leather palms and inside fingers are best. They have stretchy material on the rest. The all leather ones suck when it is raining and everything is wet. Then you end up taking them off to tie knots and rigging. -
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Ahhh, another subscriber to the theory. It's an interesting one and as I said earlier, in principle it's not a bad idea...
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Permalink Reply by Jason Brooks on
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I like the dexterity of the Ringer's gloves, they fit tight on your hands. I have worn CMC gloves for years.
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Permalink Reply by llpoteat on
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I would hate to not be wearing any gloves when control is lost. Rope and related gear is made by man, it can and will fail sooner or later. I would agree that most of the time you probably don't need them, but i'm not sure were a lot of you work. I work in a N Ga. it is not heard of for the rope to run through poison ivy (it is every where). Try not wearing gloves after it runs through some.
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Permalink Reply by Chris Burke on
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I wear the Petzl Cordex Plus. Used them for industrial applications as well , as confined space and rope training/rescues.
They seem to hold up very well.... -
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What kind of oil are you using on your hands?? lol maybe switch to a lotion...
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Permalink Reply by TrainingTECH1 on
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I wear CMC rope rescue glove with the double palm when rappelling or otherwise handeling a loaded rope.
When rigging I will wear a pair of Mechanics Wear gloves. I like the dexterity.
Luke, I was told something similar by a very respected rope rescue guy in the US. I see the point, but my wife would rather my hands stay soft and supple! -
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I see the point, but my wife would rather my hands stay soft and supple!
Not a vision I needed!!! -
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Permalink Reply by Allen on
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I wear Weight Lifters gloves with the finger tips cut off for several reasons. one, i have a better feel when having to harness up others while im inverted, if i need to tie my boots i don't have to take off my gloves and the leather keeps my hands silky smooth..:) J/K but they work well on long repells and cheap too. 15 bucks and got yourself a new pair.
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Permalink Reply by Brian Boutwell on
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WOW! I understand the concept but where is safety? I actually wear two different gloves. While working from rope I like to wear PMI leather gloves. If I am rigging or doing light work I wear 5.11 gloves.
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