Technical Rescue

Comment

Comment by Mark Galloway on July 1, 2013 at 2:09pm

Hello:

I was wondering if anyone can help to shed some light on some questions I've been having regarding the safety factors on a rescue system. When we look at a typical high angle rescue system composed of:

- A main line made up of: a bombproof anchor, 40KN rated rope, steel biners, and a rescue rack or scarab

- A Belay line made up of: Bombproof Anchor, Load release hitch, steel carabiners, 40KN rope and triple-wrap, 8-mm tandem Prusiks on the rope.

- Litter & Attendant tie-ins to the rope with all equipment rated to the according safety factor (15:1). 

If I take into consideration that a SF of 15:1 for a two person rescue load (600lb) is 9000Lbs or 40 KN when wouldn't a belay system like the one mentioned above fail to meet this safety factor? It is my understanding that tandem prusiks will slip somewhere around 20KN to 25KN on slow pull tests not dynamic events which I can only assume would be much lower than 20KN. So even if we considered that in a catastrophic loss of the mainline we only saw 20KN on the belay due to fall then we would only be a SF of less than 8:1. Am I missing something here? what other part of the system comes into effect at this point that pushes this to 15:1 or event 10:1?

Comment by John B Renner IV on April 5, 2013 at 12:58pm

My department is fortunate. Staffing, equipment and training is not an issue. As far as progression, we are really starting to get the newest and greatest stuff: MPD, OMNI pulleys, etc.

Comment by Rick Gibson on November 29, 2011 at 4:44pm

Does anybody have a annual Tech rescue training plan that their department uses and are willing to share.

Comment by BRENT WEIR on March 5, 2011 at 12:13pm

We recently added the Steel Max to our extrication equipment.  It works great!  Cuts through cars like a hot knife through butter, no sparks and little if any heat.  I'm not sure how it compares with the Milwaukee saw, but it was definitely a good addition to our toolbox!  And I swear I don't get a commission... maybe I should look into that...

Comment by Zane Morgan on March 4, 2011 at 7:43pm

 My department is looking at adding a Milwaukee metal cutting circular saw to our rescue. Do any of you guys already have on? If so, what do you like or dislike about it?28734_6370-21.jpg

Comment by Pascal Marchand on January 6, 2010 at 2:22pm

I'm not an expert on technical rescue but i've found a video of Paris, firefighter trying to prevent a jumper to jump from the Eiffel tower. It's on my blog here's the link:http://www.formationincendieleblog.com/2010/01/sauvetage-en-hauteur...

Comment by James Vickers on May 25, 2009 at 5:34am

On trench panels, does anyone else run the upright flush at the bottom and leave 4' at the top? If so, have you found any problems in doing so?

Thanks,

Comment by Koll Andersen on April 19, 2009 at 8:17pm

G******** Brothers and Sisters in Tech Rescue. I look forward to sharing ideas, techniques and experiences with you. Thanks for what you do. Keepin it safe.