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Reality vs Fiction: Technical Rescue and Other Rope Rescues
Although most firefighters don't get to be suspended hundreds of feet above the streets, with a rope that's about to give of like "Chicago Fire" or "Ladder 49", rope has become that universal piece of equipment we all carry. However, I am most curious about what aspects of rope rescue situations are great and what are not so great. For example, there's no NFPA standard for search lines (at least to my knowledge). That surprises me since it's important for RIT and secondary searches. I also am curious about what kind of equipment your departments use and what you wished you had!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Austin on
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For us, there are at least 3 things our RIT rope must comply with:
-At least 50ft
-Must be untouched, never used, completely clean. Once the rope is used even once, for any reason, it becomes spare rope.
-At least 8mm thick
-Stay in its bag/whatever until it's used
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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For example, there's no NFPA standard for search lines (at least to my knowledge). That surprises me since it's important for RIT and secondary searches.
You don't see such a standard because for the most part a search rope typically isn't being used for life safety, it is considered utility rope. There are NFPA standards that life safety rope meets for the fire service, but when rope no longer meets those standards it is typically relugated to utility status and many times, as a search rope. The search aspect is typially just a means of orientation, not really used for rescue or pulling people etc....or used in tech rescue.
I am most curious about what aspects of rope rescue situations are great and what are not so great.
As far as what? If it works, it is great, if it doesn't it isn't so great. The question is too vague to really answer, especially with so many variables that exist with technical rescue.
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For us, there are at least 3 things our RIT rope must comply with:
-At least 50ft
-Must be untouched, never used, completely clean. Once the rope is used even once, for any reason, it becomes spare rope.
-At least 8mm thick
-Stay in its bag/whatever until it's used
I don't really agree with that Austin. Why the 50 ft length? I'm guessing then that this is only for use at the actual RIT scene, not as a search/orientation rope?
Why never use it or never touch it and remain in the bag? I think that just leads to complacency. What are you using to train with? If it is utility rope, then why trust that if it has been relugated to "utility" standards?
I understand the aspect of a rope being "shock loaded" and that it should be relugated to utility afterwards, but otherwise, there are standards that dictate care and maintanence of rope, including cleaning and inspection. When you look at Technical rescue crews, they are training with the very same ropes they would be using for real emergencies, it doesn't make sense to purchase new rope every time it is used. If the rope is considered utility after a single use, then what are you practicing with? If it is utility, why is it OK to practice, but not use for real?
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Permalink Reply by Norm Tindell on
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The first thing I thought of isn't even a characteristic of the rope (and related equipment) --- it's training. Until recently we had two technical rescue specialists at our station. Now we have none, but we still have the equipment. We dare not use it because the rest of us are not trained to the NFPA standard.
So I wish we had more training.
I agree with those who state rope not used as life safety line doesn't need to be pampered with the same care. It is utility or "multi-purpose line." Just inspect it regularly for abrasions, broken strands, burns and foreign materials, such as petroleum products. And a RIT line should be at least 150 feet long (depending on your jurisdiction). First, train thoroughly on using a hose line to get out. Then introduce the rope as a secondary means.
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I don't really agree with that Austin. Why the 50 ft length? I'm guessing then that this is only for use at the actual RIT scene, not as a search/orientation rope?
Why never use it or never touch it and remain in the bag? I think that just leads to complacency. What are you using to train with? If it is utility rope, then why trust that if it has been relugated to "utility" standards?
I understand the aspect of a rope being "shock loaded" and that it should be relugated to utility afterwards, but otherwise, there are standards that dictate care and maintanence of rope, including cleaning and inspection. When you look at Technical rescue crews, they are training with the very same ropes they would be using for real emergencies, it doesn't make sense to purchase new rope every time it is used. If the rope is considered utility after a single use, then what are you practicing with? If it is utility, why is it OK to practice, but not use for real?
You are correct, that was in regards to life saving/RIT rope, not utility rope. We have completely different standards when it comes to utility rope.
All of our rope, for the most part, is stored in the same style bag as our RIT rope. Just in a different area of the apparatus with different markings on it. This is done in order to not confuse the guys on scene with what rope is what.
In regards to training and only using it once, that is a little more complex subject. We specifically use RIT rope only once (from what I've been told from the higher up's) is because: we want to use brand new life rope in RIT operations in order to be certain that the rope being used can do the job it is suppose to do without failing. With that sadly, we rarely train for RIT situations. Currently, I believe their is no one trained as a RIT member in my department. I'm trying to change that, however like everything else that will take time.
We try to take the best care of our equipment as we can, rope included. I hope it did not come across that by untouched I meant not maintained. It is, but for the purpose of training or other activities, the life rope stays put.
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Permalink Reply by DAVID GONZALEZ on
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i carry 150 ft. of webbing in my gear thats daisy chained for when i do rit the strong light weight only problem you cant feel it crawling back to your partner.
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Permalink Reply by 55 TRUCK on
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To clear something up. The Rope rescue done in Ladder 49 was copied from a actual rescue done by Rescue 2 FDNY. This is not a fictional way to make a grab. It is a tried and true way that was first done by Rescue 2 FDNY. Since then it has been done by other Rescue and Truck co. in not only NY. But other cities as well.
Using a firefighter as your anchor is done when there are no solid anchor points on the roof.
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Permalink Reply by Moose on
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I opened our rope bags the other night and moths flew out...
We have a stokes basket in out rescue truck and we keep all of our rope gear in bags nestled inside the stokes (In through compartment just behind cab). But I have only seen it used twice since beeing here, both for drills. We would set up a 3-to-1 hauling system, practice knots and put it back...thats it.
We have a county rescue team so I guess we would only use our stuff in support of them or in extreme instances before they arrive. We are 100% rural with a lot of farm lands and woods, mountainous terrain also, but we have never needed the ropes. We just had a call where a hunter fell from his tree stand a month ago and we needed a 4 wheeler to get him out, back in the woods a few hundred yards, but we didnt need rope for that either.
We only have a few people trained in rope rescue, I myself am only trained to low-angle, and our chief and one other guy (career firefighter) are trained to high-angle so I guess I will echo what someone already mentioned, and thats training, or lack thereof.
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