Aerial Rescue Practice

[krummholz]

The Arb Associations' Technical Guide 1 states a requirement for aerial rescue to be practiced (both scheduled and impromptu) at least once every 6 months (Section 16.2). It offers a few suggestions for considerations, and says the practice scenarios should "seek to simulate authentic situations".

 

How are people finding implementing this? Are you getting it done every 6 months? What scenarios are you training?

 

I was very pleased to see this included in TG1, I think its really important, but then there's no corresponding requirement to record or document the aerial rescue practices - are folk doing this anyway?

[Mack]

We do bit it’s nothing more than a box rocking exercise. We all know that if a climber cuts himself up a tree so bad that he can’t self rescue then he’s probably a gonner. A seasoned climber MAY just get to someone in time not Harry the grounds my with the serial recuse ticket stands no chance

[krummholz]

10 hours ago, Mack said:

We do bit it’s nothing more than a box rocking exercise. We all know that if a climber cuts himself up a tree so bad that he can’t self rescue then he’s probably a gonner. A seasoned climber MAY just get to someone in time not Harry the grounds my with the serial recuse ticket stands no chance

That just sounds like a situation where there is no adequate rescue plan in place - if the designated rescue climber isn't competent and able to undertake the rescue then there's no rescue provision in place? 

I assume that's what the regular rescue practices is meant to remedy? Boxes need to get ticked, yes, but why not make it worthwhile?

An access line in the tree and a properly trained rescue climber with, say, a combat application tourniquet can definitely improve the chances of climber with a catastrophic injury surviving.

[peds]

Better make it two access lines. Much safer.

[Treetom15]

1 hour ago, krummholz said:

That just sounds like a situation where there is no adequate rescue plan in place - if the designated rescue climber isn't competent and able to undertake the rescue then there's no rescue provision in place? 

I assume that's what the regular rescue practices is meant to remedy? Boxes need to get ticked, yes, but why not make it worthwhile?

An access line in the tree and a properly trained rescue climber with, say, a combat application tourniquet can definitely improve the chances of climber with a catastrophic injury surviving.

Unfortunately, this is the reality for most (larger) companies. Until I started working consistently with a good climber as my 2nd man recently, I doubt I’ve ever worked with a groundsman who’s truly capable of rescuing someone quickly enough to prevent a death from a catastrophic bleed. 
 

I worked for a big company who did 6 monthly aerial rescue refreshers, which was a great box ticking exercise and nothing else. The designated groundsmen had a go, but you can’t gain years of experience by climbing twice a year! 

[Mick Dempsey]

In the huge majority of outfits you’ll never get rescued, unless it’s hours later by the fire brigade when rigor mortis is setting in.

 

Think about that when you’re rigging big or one handing.

 

 

 

 

[krummholz]

50 minutes ago, Treetom15 said:

Unfortunately, this is the reality for most (larger) companies. Until I started working consistently with a good climber as my 2nd man recently, I doubt I’ve ever worked with a groundsman who’s truly capable of rescuing someone quickly enough to prevent a death from a catastrophic bleed. 
 

I worked for a big company who did 6 monthly aerial rescue refreshers, which was a great box ticking exercise and nothing else. The designated groundsmen had a go, but you can’t gain years of experience by climbing twice a year! 

Again, it might be the reality (and I've definitely been in this situation countless times) but that doesn't mean it's acceptable or OK.

 

To rephrase my opening post then - how can we make aerial rescue practice (and provision) more than a box ticking exercise?

[krummholz]

38 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

In the huge majority of outfits you’ll never get rescued, unless it’s hours later by the fire brigade when rigor mortis is setting in.

 

Think about that when you’re rigging big or one handing.

 

 

 

 

So you're saying prepare for self rescue, and rig safely and conservatively, and don't one hand the chainsaw?

[krummholz]

1 hour ago, peds said:

Better make it two access lines. Much safer.

TG1 states that you can do away with the "backup" 2nd line during a rescue if possible, but you could use 2 lines for a rescue if you wanted to and it made you feel safer, and were quick enough that the rescue would be effective.

 

This wasn't meant to be another thread moaning about 2 rope working and the WAHR, there's many other threads for that if that's what you're into.

Edited July 2, 2023 by krummholz
spelling

[Mick Dempsey]

14 minutes ago, krummholz said:

So you're saying prepare for self rescue, and rig safely and conservatively, and don't one hand the chainsaw?

Sort of, what I’m saying is think hard about what you’re about to do, bearing in mind you’re on your own up there if things go Pete Tong.