Rope
Technical Rope Rescue - Operations
This course provides an introduction to rope rescue and covers the fundamentals of low angle rope rescue. We use a structured, step-by-step and hands-on approach that makes it easy to learn new skills or fine-tune existing skills.
Students will cover pre-planning and size-up of rope rescue operations; knots, hitches and anchor systems; belay operations; ascending and descending lines; mechanical advantage systems; raising and lowering systems; and patient packaging and litter attending. These skills will come together so that students are able to safely navigate over-the-bank rescue situations and assist technician-level rescuers in high-level environments. The course will also emphasize communication skills and incident management for technical rescue operations. This course is designed to meet the rope rescue competencies as outlined for the Operations Level of the NFPA 1670 Standard on Operations & Training for Technical Rescue Incidents.
Details
Duration: 3 days (24 hours)
Format: 1 day classroom, 2 days at outdoor field sites
Cost: $429
Pre-requisites
- 18+ years of age (16-17 with parental permission)
- In good physical condition
Required Equipment
- Class III full-body harness (or separate chest and sit harnesses)*
- Climbing helmet*
- Sturdy boots (hiking boots are fine)
- Pants made of durable material
- Gloves with leather palms (work gloves are fine)
(* Rentals available - Click here for a list of rental prices and course equipment requirements.)
FAQ
More details about technical rope courses including what to expect and how to prepare. Click here for our Technical Rope Rescue FAQ.
General Objectives
- To develop a sense of confidence and necessary skills for rescue personnel in rope rescue operations.
- To train the student in utilization and adaptation of standard rescue gear in rope rescue operations.
- To train the student in use of innovative rescue equipment in rope rescue operations.
Behavioral Objectives
- Understand the basic characteristics of ropes, knots, technical gear, and litters used in low angle, to high angle rescue work.
- Be able to manage such systems with fair competency in actual low angle terrain.
- Understand the management skills needed to direct a low angle technical rope rescue mission.
- Be able to tie basic rescue knots.
- Understand and utilize basic camming devices and hitches.
- Understand and utilize tensioning systems and mechanical advantage systems.
- Be able to construct effective anchors, utilize natural and artificial anchors.
- Understand and utilize rope protection.
- Be able to manage a self-belay (low angle), and understand the differences between static and dynamic belays.
- Be able to package a patient into a litter.
- Be able to rig a litter attachment system for raising or lowering in a low angle rescue situation.
- Be able to set up and manage a friction lowering system.
- Be able to set up and manage a raising system.
- Understand the role of the Incident Command Systems and the unique position of Safety Officer in rope rescues.
Course Outline
This is a generalized course outline. Individual instructors may change the order in which the outline subjects are covered.
Day One - Classroom Session
- Registration; rope rescue safety and training; the philosophy of rescue
- Rope rescue problems and systems applications
- Equipment-current, specialized, new, and experimental
- Structure problems
- Helicopters in the rope rescue environment
- Practice: ropes, knots, technical gear
- Practice: introduction to rope systems and anchors
Day Two - Field Session
- Practice: low angle rescues - scene assessment, incident command, traffic management
- Practice: mechanical advantage systems
- Practice: Assisting ambulatory patients
- Ascending and descending rope in low angle environment
- Patient packaging and litter attending
- Low angle litter evacuation systems with attendants
Day Three - Field Session
- Tripods and “A” frames
- Rappelling in mixed and high angle environment
- Low and mixed terrain scenario, raising and lowering of litter and attendants
- General review and testing of skills
- Certificates
Take Aways
- Rescue 3’s Technical Rope Rescue - Technician Level Manual
- Personalized skill sheet (training record) signed by the instructor (valuable document for risk management)
- Registration of training record in Rescue 3’s international database
- Wallet card with personal Rescue 3 registration number and date of certification
- Certificate of Completion
