NPTC and pole rescues (or not)

[Sciadopitys]

I did my CS38 (aerial rescue) about 5 years now, and i was shown and practiced (once) a pole rescue on the course, but was not asked to demonstrate this in the assessment. I have spoke to people who are qualified to CS38 and never got shown this in there course. My point is, i climb regularly on site clearance work on spikes, topping out maybe 30 or 40 trees a day sometimes, and i am relying on a qualified CS38 rescuer in case of emergency and i suspect they have never been shown a pole rescue, and they certainly are not competent enough to carry one out under stressful conditions such as me bleeding with a MS200T hanging out my rib cage!

 

Should the CS38 have a compulsory pole rescue? I think maybe so. If not,then CS38 should only allow them to be a rescue climber if spikes are not being used. Maybe the pole rescue could be incorporated into the CS41 (dismantling unit) and assessed along with the dismantling.

 

What does everyone think!?!?! Definatley a flaw in the system tho when a trained aerial rescuer is relied upon by a climber who works regularly on spikes like myself. There are no guarantees that he knows how to do a pole rescue!!!

[Tree Man Tom]

They are in the process of revising cs38, and one of the proposed additions is to demonstrate rescue from a pole... i think? I'm sure i will be soon corected if im wrong.

[Amelanchier]

Getting injured up a stick was one of my worst fears - its a seriously technical and physically difficult rescue and I know i'd struggle.

 

Just thinking about it worries me.

 

As you say, definately needs its profile raising and perhaps a compulsory pole rescue would focus the mind!

[Peter]

Pole rescue is probably the second worst scenario i can think of.

 

I for one have no intention of ever needing to be rescued off a pole, which is why I always have a means of getting to the ground set up and ready to go. If you are ready, even with broken bones or dislocation you should be able to get down quickly. Adrenaline and determination will overcome initial shock and pain.

 

However, if you have to set something up before you can descend, then you will be hampered by your injuries and probably stuck waiting for a rescue. Possibly for some time, depending who is on the ground, what kit they have, and whether they are trained and prepared.

 

I for one am not prepared to chance it!

[Sciadopitys]

Pole rescue is probably the second worst scenario i can think of.

 

I for one have no intention of ever needing to be rescued off a pole, which is why I always have a means of getting to the ground set up and ready to go.

 

Can you explain in detail exactly what you mean here please. Cheers.

[Peter]

On the smaller diameter stuff I use my ropeguide with a climbing line set up as normal.

 

On the bigger stuff, climbing line choked around stem with figure eight set up above friction hitch.

 

Either way enough rope available to get down in a single pitch.

 

There was a good explaination of this in another thread recently.

[Sciadopitys]

There was a good explaination of this in another thread recently.

 

Yeah, that was me i think. Ah, so you use a rope guide around the stem as a false crotch - got ya! I can see what you mean about been able to desend quickly to safety - a good idea!!!

[Highland Forestry]

You can also have a false crotch set up with just a tail and karab at the live end, and the dead end tethered to a long prussik set up on the ground, enabling somebody on the ground (trained or otherwise) to carry out your rescue for you by operating the prussik on the ground to lower you down the pole. All the climber needs to do is click in the karab on his harness and disconnect/cut his main line or strop.

 

We were shown this method on my course, as well as carrying out a pole rescue and I must say it looks like a very safe and quick way of getting someone down from a tree safely.

 

The method described above can also be used for lowering limbs/logs etc, but you obviousley would not be using any climbing prussiks or climbing rope for any lowering work.

[Sciadopitys]

You can also have a false crotch set up with just a tail and karab at the live end, and the dead end tethered to a long prussik set up on the ground, enabling somebody on the ground (trained or otherwise) to carry out your rescue for you by operating the prussik on the ground to lower you down the pole. All the climber needs to do is click in the karab on his harness and disconnect/cut his main line or strop.

 

We were shown this method on my course, as well as carrying out a pole rescue and I must say it looks like a very safe and quick way of getting someone down from a tree safely.

 

The method described above can also be used for lowering limbs/logs etc, but you obviousley would not be using any climbing prussiks or climbing rope for any lowering work.

 

I understand what your saying, but wouldn't it be awefully time consuming setting this up each time you move positions? Surely this is not how you guys dismantle poles on a day-to-day basis is it?

[Highland Forestry]

I understand what your saying, but wouldn't it be awefully time consuming setting this up each time you move positions? Surely this is not how you guys dismantle poles on a day-to-day basis is it?

 

What needs to be time consuming about it??

for rescue purposes, if you are on a pole, you can just move the false crotch down at the same time as moving your strop down... all the while having a safe emergency exit!