Rope RescueRope Rescue

NS Mayport Fire and NS Mayport Fire and Emergency ServicesEmergency Services

ReferencesReferences

IFSTA Rescue, Chapter 4, 6th Edition, 1996

NFPA 1670, Operations and Training for Technical Rescue Incidents, 1999 edition.

NFPA 1983, Fire Service Life Safety Rope And System Components, 1995 edition

Considerations for Rope Rescue, Kenneth N. Laidlaw, 1999, (internet)

Ropes and Knots, United States Search and Rescue Task Force, undated (internet)

NFPA 1670 NFPA 1670

Outlines requirements for Outlines requirements for Technical Rescue IncidentsTechnical Rescue Incidents

Identifies the operating levels of Identifies the operating levels of rescue.rescue.

AwarenessAwareness OperationsOperations TechnicianTechnician

Awareness LevelAwareness Level

Minimum requirementMinimum requirement Ability to:Ability to: Do size upDo size up Identify resourcesIdentify resources Implement emergency response and Implement emergency response and

ICS ICS Use PPEUse PPE Recognize Hazards of Rope RescueRecognize Hazards of Rope Rescue

Operations LevelOperations Level

Awareness LevelAwareness Level Implement:Implement: Rope based mechanical advantage Rope based mechanical advantage

systemssystems Edge ProtectionEdge Protection Single and Multiple point Anchoring Single and Multiple point Anchoring

SystemsSystems

Operations Level cont...Operations Level cont...

Use Belay SystemsUse Belay Systems Construct lowering and raising Construct lowering and raising

systemssystems Tie KnotsTie Knots Assure SafetyAssure Safety Package patientPackage patient Maintain ropes and equipmentMaintain ropes and equipment Ascend and Descend a fixed ropeAscend and Descend a fixed rope

Technician LevelTechnician Level

Operations LevelOperations Level Know Procedures for:Know Procedures for: Load distributing anchor systemsLoad distributing anchor systems High-line rope systemHigh-line rope system Use in High-angle environmentUse in High-angle environment Pass Knots Through SystemPass Knots Through System Use litter Attendants in High -angle Use litter Attendants in High -angle

rescuerescue

RopeRope

Two types of rope used in the fire Two types of rope used in the fire serviceservice

Utility ropeUtility rope Life Safety RopeLife Safety Rope

Utility RopeUtility Rope

No fire standard appliesNo fire standard applies Hoisting and securing objects onlyHoisting and securing objects only NOT TO BE USED FOR RESCUE OF NOT TO BE USED FOR RESCUE OF

VICTIMSVICTIMS

Life Safety RopeLife Safety Rope

NFPA 1983NFPA 1983 Two classesTwo classes One person One person 300 LBS300 LBS 4500LBF4500LBF 1 1/8” - 1 1/2” 1 1/8” - 1 1/2”

Life Safety RopeLife Safety Rope

Two PersonTwo Person 600 LBS600 LBS 9000 LBF9000 LBF 1 1/2” - 2 1/4”1 1/2” - 2 1/4”

Life Safety RopeLife Safety Rope

Only type to be used for RESCUEOnly type to be used for RESCUE Should Not be used for UTILITY Should Not be used for UTILITY

ROPEROPE

Rope ConstructionRope Construction

Laid-Laid- Twisted or laid bundle of strands Twisted or laid bundle of strands

around each otheraround each other Can stretchCan stretch Can spiral it untwisted under load.Can spiral it untwisted under load.

Laid RopeLaid Rope

Rope ConstructionRope Construction

Solid Braid-Solid Braid- No CoreNo Core Unacceptable as Rescue RopeUnacceptable as Rescue Rope Used only for Utility ropeUsed only for Utility rope

Rope ConstructionRope Construction

Kernmantle-Kernmantle- High strength inner core (kern)High strength inner core (kern) Outer sheath (mantle)Outer sheath (mantle) Kern is the load bearing elementKern is the load bearing element

KernmantleKernmantle

Dynamic KernmantleDynamic Kernmantle Load absorbing abilityLoad absorbing ability Twisted or Laid inner core allows Twisted or Laid inner core allows

some stretchsome stretch

KernmantleKernmantle

Static KernmantleStatic Kernmantle Little stretchLittle stretch High abrasion resistanceHigh abrasion resistance Excellent Rescue RopeExcellent Rescue Rope

KernmantleKernmantle

Almost all rescue rope made of Almost all rescue rope made of DuPont NylonDuPont Nylon

Block and Creel construction Block and Creel construction means-means-

No Knots in fibers, andNo Knots in fibers, and Never been used fibersNever been used fibers

KernmantleKernmantle

Rope Care and InspectionRope Care and Inspection

Inspect before and after useInspect before and after use Inspect for-Inspect for- Visual damageVisual damage Loose MantleLoose Mantle KinksKinks Store away from sunlight, heat and Store away from sunlight, heat and

chemicalschemicals Wash and air dryWash and air dry

Rope Do’s and Don’tsRope Do’s and Don’ts

Use the rope for it’s intended purposeUse the rope for it’s intended purpose Always use edge protectionAlways use edge protection Proper rappelling techniquesProper rappelling techniques NoNo Fast rappels Fast rappels BoundingBounding SwingingSwinging

Rope Do’s and Don’tsRope Do’s and Don’ts

Never step on a ropeNever step on a rope and, Again,and, Again, Never use a rope for anything Never use a rope for anything

other then it’s intended purposeother then it’s intended purpose

WebbingWebbing

Used to construct anchor pointsUsed to construct anchor points 1-2” sizes1-2” sizes 1” most common has a breaking 1” most common has a breaking

strength of 4000 LBSstrength of 4000 LBS If use for body contact must have If use for body contact must have

6000 LBS breaking strength 6000 LBS breaking strength

Flat webbingFlat webbing

Single layer of fabricSingle layer of fabric Hard to tie knots inHard to tie knots in Mainly used for straps and Mainly used for straps and

harnesses harnesses

Tubular WebbingTubular Webbing

Easy to tie knotsEasy to tie knots Edge stitched Edge stitched Spiral weaveSpiral weave All webbing should be inspected as All webbing should be inspected as

roperope Wash in cold water and air dryWash in cold water and air dry

HarnessesHarnesses

Class IClass I Around waist and thighsAround waist and thighs One person escape onlyOne person escape only

Class IClass I

HarnessesHarnesses

Class IIClass II Fastened as Class IFastened as Class I Load differences can be Load differences can be

determined by labeldetermined by label Used for rappelling and victim pick-Used for rappelling and victim pick-

offoff

Class IIClass II

HarnessesHarnesses

Class IIIClass III Fastened around waist, thighs and Fastened around waist, thighs and

shouldersshoulders Shoulder harness either integrated Shoulder harness either integrated

or assembled or assembled Best in Confined Space but also for Best in Confined Space but also for

High-angle rescueHigh-angle rescue

Class IIIClass III

HarnessesHarnesses

ImprovisedImprovised Rescue KnotRescue Knot Swiss seatSwiss seat Swiss seat with shoulder harnessSwiss seat with shoulder harness

BeltsBelts

Not for rescueNot for rescue Only locking in ladders, high work, Only locking in ladders, high work,

etc..etc..

HardwareHardware

CarabinersCarabiners ““D” shaped best for rescueD” shaped best for rescue Always use locking gateAlways use locking gate Load vertically at spineLoad vertically at spine ** IF A CARABINER IS DROPPED ** IF A CARABINER IS DROPPED

FROM WAIST HIEGHT OR HIGHER, FROM WAIST HIEGHT OR HIGHER, TAKE IT OUT OF SERVICETAKE IT OUT OF SERVICE

CarabinersCarabiners

Aluminum Carabiners

Steel Carabiners

HardwareHardware

Rescue ringRescue ring Used with multidirectional loadsUsed with multidirectional loads Anchor PlatesAnchor Plates Braking devices also used as Braking devices also used as

anchor pointsanchor points

HardwareHardware

Rigging Plate

Rescue Ring

AscendersAscenders

Allows climbing of fixed ropesAllows climbing of fixed ropes Will not stop a fallWill not stop a fall Use as intendedUse as intended Two typesTwo types Cam (Gibbs)Cam (Gibbs) HandleHandle

AscendersAscenders

Gibbs Ascender

Descending devicesDescending devices

Rappelling devicesRappelling devices Figure 8’sFigure 8’s Rappel racksRappel racks

Figure 8Figure 8

Various Styles of Figure 8’s

DescendersDescenders

Descender

Bar Rack

PulleysPulleys

For hoisting and Mechanical For hoisting and Mechanical Advantage Systems Advantage Systems

Raising and loweringRaising and lowering Single or double sheavesSingle or double sheaves Edge Rollers Edge Rollers Hose Rollers Hose Rollers

PulleysPulleys

Edge RollersEdge Rollers

Pulley Edge Roller

Rack Edge Roller