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High angle rescue operations involve unique hazards and require
special training and equipment to be able to perform them safely.
In the last five years, several rescuers have been killed or
seriously injured during high angle rescues and in training exercises.
What is High Angle Rescue?
Rope rescue operations are frequently defined in terms of
the type and steepness of the terrain they are to be performed
on. The steeper the ground, the more difficult and the more technical
the rescue becomes. Ropes may have to be relied upon to gain
access to the victim, to support the team members and the victims
during the rescue and remove them from the rescue site.
Low angle rescue is considered to be terrain that has a slope
angle from 15 to 35 . The condition of the terrain will determine
the need for and the amount of rope support required. Is it muddy?
Are there loose rocks or other debris that would cause poor or
slippery footing? How many rescuers are needed to transport the
victim and stretcher to safety?
Steep angle rescue is considered to be terrain that has a
slope angle from 35 to 60 . Again, the condition of the terrain
will determine the level of technical expertise required to perform
this rescue safely.
High angle rescue is considered to be terrain that has a slope
angle of 60 and higher. Rescuers are totally dependent upon the
ropes used to keep them and the victims from falling and to gain
access to and egress from the rescue location. Examples of high
angle locations include: pipe racks, ledges, catwalks, tops of
vessels, cranes, and water towers.
High angles are also found below grade level in ship holds,
barges, confined spaces, tunnels, sewer and piping systems. Good,
competent technical rescue skills involving ropes, anchoring
and belaying systems, lowering and hauling systems and litter/stretcher
work are going to be mandatory for the safe performance of the
rescue team.
Reasons for Starting a High Angle Rescue Team
Statutory requirements may be the motivating factor behind
the decision to form a high angle rescue team. In many states,
the county or parish sheriff's department is responsible for
all search and rescue operations in their county or parish.
Some states such as Tennessee have emergency rescue squads
that perform the search and rescue functions in their response
areas. Other states such as Louisiana have formed large, mutual
aid response teams such as SELSAR (South East Louisiana Search
and Rescue).
SELSAR is coordinated through the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's
Department and is made up of local law enforcement agencies,
fire departments, public and private ambulance companies, state
and federal agencies such as LA. Wildlife & Fisheries, LA.
State University Firemen Training Program (state fire training
academy), U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs, industrial emergency
response teams, private search dog teams and response teams from
neighboring states.
Local ordinances may designate the local fire, law enforcement,
or other agency as having statutory responsibilities for search
and rescue.
Public expectation may also provide a strong motivation for
forming a rescue team. When the public calls the local emergency
services telephone number, they expect their particular problem
to be handled efficiently no matter who the response agency is.
Inadequate performance at a recent high angle incident can
lead to bad public relations, unfavorable media attention and
a potential loss of services and funding as politicians try to
appease the public during election year campaigns.
The motivating factor may simply be a desire to expand the
capabilities of an existing rescue team. For example, the team
may currently perform vehicle extrication and want to offer additional
rescue services such as water rescue, high angle rescue, confined
space rescue, cave rescue, etc.
Equipment Needed
There is a bewildering amount of equipment available for high
angle rescue. The rescue team needs to have the knowledge to
choose the equipment that will best meet their particular needs.
Don't buy equipment based upon cost or low bid alone. Consider
whether it will adequately meet your needs.
- Some of the general equipment that will be needed for high
angle rescues are:
- Ropes - will you need low stretch or high stretch? Kernmantle,
braided, double braided or twist? What material will best meet
your needs (nylon, polyester, etc.)? What size will you need
- 7/16", 1/2", 9/16" or 5/8"?;
- Pulleys - will you need single, double, triple sheave? Knot
passing or prusik minding? What size, strength and weight?
- Carabiners - steel or aluminum? Locking or non-locking gates?
Size and strength?
- Harnesses - will a seat harness suffice or will you need
full body harnesses?
- Litters - basket litter, semi-rigid litter or both? Will
you need a flotation kit for the litter (is water rescue a possibility?)
What type of lifting bridle will best meet your needs - fixed
or adustable length? Strength rating? Material?
- Anchoring straps or tubular webbing? What size and strength?
Fixed or adjustable length? Fabric loops or metal "D"
rings on the ends?
- Edge or rope pads and rollers to protect the ropes from abrasion,
fraying and cutting.
- Friction control or descent devices for lowering systems.
Will you be using brake racks, brake tubes, figure eights or
some other device? What material and strength?
- Rope grab devices. Will you need mechanical rope clamps or
will you be using prusik cords? Do you know the advantages and
disadvantages of each?
Personnel Needed
The size of the team will vary with the anticipated complexities
of any potential rescues, i.e. high rise building rescue (stranded
window washer or suicidal jumper) vs wilderness rescue; fire
rescue vs child trapped in tree top; response distance and distance
from back up support or mutual aid teams will all have a bearing
on team size.
Some rescue functions can be performed by untrained personnel
to free up trained rescuers such as muscle on hauling systems
or support personnel for crowd control or to carry rescue gear.
Training Needed
The skills needed will also vary with location. Medical skills
will be required for team members but the skills required for
an urban setting may be different for a wilderness environment.
What knots will your team use? What lowering systems? What
hauling systems? What belaying technique? What anchoring system
will be needed for the different rescue sites? Litter rigging
and patient packaging skills will be very necessary; can the
patient accidentally fall from the litter after you have packaged
him? It has happened before.
Rappelling skills will help build confidence in team members
but this skill is not as vital as the ability to set up and operate
a lowering system.
In some areas of the country, such as caves with long vertical
drops, the ability to ascend the rope may be necessary.
Ending
High angle rescue teams require properly equipped, trained
and dedicated team members to be able to perform competently
and safely.
Be sure that you evaluate and compare the different brands
of equipment available and purchase gear that will best meet
your needs. Compare the training offered by different organizations.
Ask for and check references. Does the organization also sell
rescue equipment (do they teach classes to sell equipment?).
What techniques do they teach? What experience do they have in
the subject area? Are they insured?
Sound like a lot of trouble to go through? Just remember who
will be hanging on the end of the rope.
Michael Dunn is the President of Professional
Emergency Training Associates, Inc., a Baton Rouge, LA. based
fire/rescue training consulting company. He was a state industrial
firefighting and rescue instructor for 15+ years and has been
actively involved in the fire service for 28 years. He received
an Associate's Degree in Fire Protection Technology from Oklahoma
State University. Dunn is on several national and international
committees that are developing standards and textbooks for rescue
and emergency response, including those of the International
Fire Service Training Association, The American Society for Testing
and Materials, and the International Association of Dive Rescue
Specialists. |
