Technical Rope Rescue Course

The Technical Rope Rescue Course is approximately 40 hours total with 4-6 hours of classroom and 34-38 hours in the field. It is suggested that the class be held over 4 days. This agenda can also be adjusted to fit shift and other schedules if necessary.

1:12 instructor-student ratio.

This course integrates the most current technology and research on rope rescue from throughout the world and utilizes “discovery learning” to teach skills necessary to safely effect technical rope rescues in environments ranging from simple over-the-bank situations to vertical cliff and structure rescues.

The course covers basic and specialized equipment, ropes and rigging, safety considerations, scene management and organizations, helicopter applications, special problems, ascending and descending systems, rappelling, belaying lowering and raising systems, Telphers, highlines, and litter management.

This course is designed to meet the competencies in NFPA 1670 Standard for Technical Rescue Operations & Training for Technical Rescue Incidents for rope rescue. This course also meets the competencies of NFPA 1006 Standard for Rescue Professional Qualifications.

General Objectives

This course will provide individuals in positions that may involve technical rope rescue operations:

1. A course of instruction in generally recognized rope rescue techniques.
2. An exposure to current rope rescue theories and philosophies being taught internationally.
3. A structured, progressive, hands-on methodology to aid retention of skills, and/or to upgrade existing skills.
4. A mechanism to improve communication and incident management for technical operations
5. Application of current safety considerations for rope rescues.
6. An exposure to pre-planning and size-up of possible locations and hazards where rope rescue operations are needed.

Behavioral Objectives

At the completion of this course the student will:

1. Understand the basic characteristics of ropes, knots, technical gear, and litters used in low angle, to high angle rescue work.
2. Be able to manage such systems with fair competency in actual terrain.
3. Understand the management skills needed to direct a technical rope rescue mission.
4. Be able to tie basic rescue knots.
5. Understand and utilize basic camming devices and hitches.
6. Understand and utilize tensioning systems and mechanical advantage systems.
7. Be able to construct effective anchors, utilize natural and artificial anchors.
8. Understand and utilize rope protection
9. Be able to manage a self-belay, and understand the differences between Independent Belays and Conditional Belays
10. Be able to package a patient into a litter.
11. Be able to rig a litter attachment system.
12. Be able to set up and manage a friction lowering system.
13. Be able to set up and manage a raising system.
14. Understand the role of the Incident Command Systems and the unique position of Safety Officer in rope rescues.
15. Ascending and descending a fixed rope, while using ascending and descending devices.
16. Set and manage a vertical lowering system and switch to a raising system.
17. Set and manage a system to pass a knot through a raising and lowering system.
18. Direct a raising and lowering evolution with a litter and litter attendant for a vertical.

No lodging or meals included

Please bring a healthy lunch and snacks for each day. Plenty of water and drinks advised. There will not be a chance to go anywhere from the training sites for meals. No alcohol Please.