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Home My WebLink About202.014b - Rope Rescue STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES MANUAL TACTICAL OPERATIONS 202.014b ROPE RESCUE EFFECTIVE: OCTOBER 2007 Current Revision Date: 5/16/19 Next Revision Date: 5/16/22 Author’s Name/Rank: Justin Moore, Fire Captain Review Level: 1 Administrative Support: Sherrie L. Badertscher Management Analyst II PURPOSE To provide safe guidelines for operation while performing technical rope rescue operations. APPLICATION The following policy applies to Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) members while working on scene of a technical rope rescue. OPERATIONAL POLICY This section intentionally left blank. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE ROPE RESCUE Goals 1. To save and protect lives 2. To mitigate any hazardous conditions Objectives 1. Life safety 2. Hazard Mitigation Section 202.014b Page 1 of 11 Typical Assignment 1. One (1) engine company 2. One (1) truck company 3. Rescue 11 4. Engine 11 5. Truck 11 6. Battalion chief 7. One (1) ambulance Upon confirmation of a confined space rescue, the incident commander is to request the following additional resources, as needed: 1. Additional units: Fire, mutual aid, EMS 2. Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) coordinator 3. Police 4. Public information officer PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Protective clothing is to be worn as required by the situation, depending on evaluation of the hazards. The following is the appropriate level of protection to be utilized in rope rescues: 1. Steel-toed boots 2. Long pants: BDUs, Duty pants, or Grass pants 3. Long sleeved shirt: BDUs or Grass pants 4. Gloves 5. Eye protection Section 202.014b Page 2 of 11 6. Helmet (rope rescue type helmet with three-point chin strap recommended) A higher level of protective clothing may be utilized at the direction of the incident commander, if conditions warrant. COMMAND STRUCTURE The first officer to arrive at the scene is to assume command of the incident and is the incident commander until relieved by a higher-ranking officer or a more qualified officer. Primary Assessment 1. Scene safety a. Are members and others in the area in a safe location In the path of high winds Away from any hazards Vehicle traffic Falling objects Is this a confined space 2. What happened? What events led up to the rescue problem a. Find a witness b. Be alert to obvious signs of mechanical or structural failure 3. Is the victim suicidal 4. What is the condition of the victim a. Level of consciousness b. Injuries c. How long since last contact Section 202.014b Page 3 of 11 d. Multiple victims 5. Assess survival profile of victim a. Conduct a risk assessment First-Arriving Company Upon arrival, the first company officer is to establish command and initiate the following actions: 1. Isolate and deny further entry into the hazard/rescue area 2. Establish communications with the victim as soon as possible 3. Attempt non-entry rescue (if possible) a. Are on-site retrieval devices available b. Is the victim already attached to a safety line c. Lower rescue rope to conscious victim d. Can the victim be secured to a stable object 4. Secure and lockout any possible mechanical, electrical, atmosphere, and/or engulfment hazards 5. Consider need for additional equipment a. Balance of US&R assignment (if not already dispatched) b. Special calling additional units if multiple victims are involved c. Mutual aid resources available Secondary Assessment Before any rescue is attempted, command must determine as much information as possible. 1. Type of structure/area 2. Hazards to rescuers and victims a. Hazardous materials Section 202.014b Page 4 of 11 b. Mechanical c. Electrical d. Engulfment e. After shocks 3. Exact location and confirmed number of victims 4. Access points 5. Structural stability First-Arriving US&R Company Upon arrival, establish communications with command and re-assess the situation. A US&R company officer should assume Rescue Group Supervisor. 1. Establish a perimeter and control zones a. Hot Zone: Area involving the victim, the most hazardous area b. Warm Zone: Area which can potentially become hazardous and involve a rescuer or bystander c. Cold Zone: Area at a safe distance from the hazard and cannot quickly become hazardous d. Size of zones to be determined by: Structural stability Wind direction Atmospheric conditions 2. Create an incident action plan Section 202.014b Page 5 of 11 Chief Officer Upon arrival, the battalion chief is to: 1. Consult with the incident commander and rescue group supervisor regarding status of incident 2. Assume command of incident 3. Redirect strategy mode as required 4. Consider additional resources 5. Direct or redirect actions of on-scene companies 6. Direct or redirect actions of incoming companies 7. Provide logistical support 8. Establish rehabilitation/rotation of companies as necessary SPECIAL-CALL/MULTIPLE-ALARM COMPANIES Unless otherwise directed, officers of special-called or multiple-alarm companies are to stage apparatus well clear of incident site and report to the incident commander for instructions. PRE-ROPE RESCUE 1. Begin assigning incident command system (ICS) positions as identified in this procedure a. Incident command b. Safety officer c. Public information officer d. Liaison officer Acts as a technical liaison to facility personnel e. Logistics officer Section 202.014b Page 6 of 11 Coordinates requests for rescue equipment Coordinates with other agencies f. Operations officer Develops a complete rescue plan including: o Access o Packaging o Retrieval Coordinates rescue efforts g. Rescue group Rescue team Retrieval team Edge Communicates directly with rescue group Commands haul team Prevents unauthorized entry into hazard area Haul team Must consist of at least three (3) members Listens to the Edge person only for commands h. Medical group 2. Conduct a safety check on all rescue group personnel 3. Conduct a pre-rescue briefing Section 202.014b Page 7 of 11 ROPE RESCUE 1. Anchor points a. Vehicle Ignition keys to Rescue Group Supervisor, wheels chocked Perpendicular to vehicle, not in-line is preferred Use structural members or tires b. Natural Use thick, heavy tree trunks Evaluate boulders, rocks, etc., before use Use high point directional when possible to prevent rope damage and assist with transitions c. Building Use heavy-structural members d. Aerial ladder Be aware of doubled or tripled loads due to mechanical advantage systems Haul line from tip should be in-line with aerial to prevent side loading Aerials must be at extension and angle to achieve a 1,000lbs load capacity before mechanical advantage systems may be attached e. Tripod, ladder jig, A-frame f. Anchor software Hardware to anchor Rope anchor or manufactured web anchor Doubled or tripled webbing Larks foot or single webbing Section 202.014b Page 8 of 11 2. Knots a. The figure eight knot is the strongest and most versatile knot for rescue work b. The overhand bend (water knot) is best for joining two pieces of webbing c. All knots must be dressed for optimum strength and recognition 3. Rope systems a. 2:1 (ladder-rig) The easiest mechanical advantage system Requires more members on haul team b. 3:1 (z-rig) Single rope attached to load makes this system best for over the side work Allows for longest possible retrieval system c. 4:1 (haul-safe) Compact size makes it best for tripod work d. Safety line (Belay) Used whenever possible Should use separate anchor and lifeline Secured to rescuer at an appropriate attachment point Safety lines should be provided with the use of double prussic belay systems or other approved manufactured belay devices. Should be tended allowing no slack to develop f. Rappelling A system where an individual lowers themselves with the use of a friction device Section 202.014b Page 9 of 11 g. High lines and other such advance rope systems Should only be performed by technician level trained personnel These systems have low safety margins and require specialized equipment and training 4. Harnesses a. The Department uses a Class III full body harness (required for confined space) b. Class II harnesses may be used for water rescues and low angle rescues c. Victim harnesses are harnesses designed for packaging victims 5. Communication systems a. Voice communication is simplest; use radio communication for greater distances Tac channels should be used when possible b. Edge person commands the haul team; he/she communicates with the rescuer by name c. Rope rescue command terminology: Slack - Slowly release rope until there is slack. Tension - Slowly haul rope until there is no slack. Raise - Smoothly begin taking up the rope. Lower - Smoothly begin lowering the rope. Stop - Safely stop all movement. d. Rope signals (O.A.T.H.) are second choice OK - 1 tug ADVANCE - 2 tugs TAKE UP - 3 tugs HELP - 4 tugs Section 202.014b Page 10 of 11 SUPPORT FUNCTIONS 1. Lighting a. Lighting should be provided for all nighttime operations. b. Portable lighting can be provided by all Department trucks and Rescue 11. c. Headlamps are on all Department trucks in the OES box and Rescue 11. d. Light sticks are on all Department trucks in the OES box and Rescue 11. PROCESS This section intentionally left blank. INFORMATION This section intentionally left blank. DEFINITIONS This section intentionally left blank. CROSS-REFERENCES No cross-references recognized. Section 202.014b Page 11 of 11