Rescue at 2009 Finals

[Linda]

I thought it was interesting to see the ways in which people who ascended on the casualty's line chose to lift the casualty's weight off the mechanical ascenders. The ones who chose to use his/her own weight seemed to do best!

[Rupe]

The fact that the dummy only weighs 30kgs or so made it easier! I guess points were awarded for a method that would also have worked on a 100kg patient.

 

I set up a 3:1 pull system but it took up too much time!

[DrewB]

got any pics of any of the systems used rupe? seems a really good idea for a comp rescue.

[Rupe]

I didn't take any pics, sorry. Too busy confusing myself myself over what to do!

 

Many systems were used, I made a 3:1 using my lanyard which worked well but too slow, some may have just lifted him off his footlock system, some hung him on there spliced end of rope and then used their body weight to lift him, this worked well but like I said he only weighs 30kgs or so.

[Will Ayers]

i spent the whole day up the work climb tree as the tech so missed it all, i wanted to see what people would do as i wouldn't have a clue. if that happened at work i think i'd have to get up on another line. its a shame that paul was trying to rush people through, he could have let people finish to see what they did. interesting to hear about the 3:1 pull system to release his weight of his system.

 

the only trouble is paul has to go one step further next time. wonder what that rescue will entail. perhaps a guy passing out half way through a traverse between 2 trees.

[Rowden the cowboy]

Surely going up on the casualties line would entail potentially exceeding the safety working load of the rope, as most ropes have a breaking strain of minimum 22kn, thats just over 2000kg: Apply a safety factor of 10 and the swl is 200kg: potentially with 2 full grown men hanging off it you would be outside the SWL and therefore it cannot be good practice.

[bob]

it would be doubt full to get 2 guys weighing more than 220kg and most ropes are more like 2600kg mbs so 260kg but even so a factor of safety should allow for emergencies so would not worry too much

[Rowden the cowboy]

fair play, and i just realised that on a footlock line the rope is doubled so the BS is nearer 44kn. I will now eat my words

[Rupe]

Even on a single line, 2 men at 120 kgs each (big units) would only take it above the swl so the rescue would be done, everyone lives and the rope gets chucked due to it exceeding the swl. No harm done, thats why there is a 10:1 safety limit!

[john dawson]

come on chaps, try telling your (now very pissed off) boss why your putting half a dozen lines into a tree "just in case" instead of getting your butt up there and working. me thinks youl be looking at arbjobs.co.uk in the evening!!

a second access line is a good idea, but often overlooked. as its also best practise to have a belay line attatched to your non existent rear anchor point on your non existent fall-arrest harness.

i will be honest tho, i probably wouldnt have even made it upto said casualty!