Posted: 10/03/2011

Attendent Attachments for Rescuers Working In And Around Water.

The safety systems for those working at height whilst approaching casualties in water have evolved with the development in adjustable connectors and quick release gear.

Clearly the risks to operators are the same as they would be for any other access worker whilst they are actually at height i.e. being lowered down an embankment or steep river bank. However, the risks change greatly at the water’s edge where too many connections present great danger and “releaseability” must be guaranteed in an emergency (see Fire service Rope Working Manual Page 69).

The rescuers attachments are complicated, and it may be useful to keep pre-rigged systems at hand. For the loaded “Working System” we use a PETZL “ID” device as it allows easy operation both up and down, and most delegates are familiar with it’s usage. It is rigged in a pulley configuration to a rig plate making movement relatively easy. Below it is the quick release device. This has recently been shortened (the webbing being replaced by a simple metal plate) thus making the device above easier to reach and operate.

If the pulley configuration is set at full length the rescuer has the ability to move upwards to get out of difficulties and if lowered to close to problematic water. Bespoke lengths of rope, with sewn terminations are available from various sources. A 3m length is used for most approaches. However, 9 metres is used for vertical stretcher operations.

The safety back-up system for the rescuer also comes from the rigging plate, and can be a length of dynamic rope or an adjustable connector. The latter works more effectively in that it’s length can be altered to match the setting of the main working system. A Grillon is the device of choice, with the “device” end “lower-most” to enable adjustment even when the plate above is out of reach. The safety system must be removed by the operator before they enter the water.

Harnesses

The current best harness in this environment is a very basic one without external loop features which might put the rescuer at risk in moving water. The DMM Alpine has recently been altered so that the gear loops can be removed without compromising the integrity of the webbing. This can be complimented by a standard chest harness which can be fitted beneath a PFD buoyancy jacket after the two harnesses have been joined together.

Casualty Connectors

Casualty connectors can be linked to the same rigging plate facilitating the positioning of a rescue harness. Adjustable connectors (Grillons again) can be fitted with the devices up out of reach of the casualty or, for maximum adjustment in the water, down by the harness.

Operationally, the number of connectors and their “releaseability” would be a judgement call dependant on an assessment of the risks and the compliance of the casualty. In training we maintain 100% redundancy. The more simple the strop, the more useable in this very difficult environment.

Separating Rescuer From Casualty

For basic lowers and raises, to apply a rescue harness to a casualty, an alternative method is worthy of consideration. It involves separation of the rescuers systems and that of the casualty. We demonstrate this with two parallel “V” rigs – one for the rescuer, whose risks may be reduced in challenging environments with with a large or non-compliant casualty. The other is for the casualty. This reduces rescue loads but requires slightly more resources and rescuers.

Basic Cableway Systems

The same pulley system used for the positioning of the rescuers can be used to connect casualties to rope cableways, minimising manual handling issues for rescuers and keeping cableway rigging adjustment to a minimum.

We connect the “ID Pulley” to a Kootenay carriage to make the system easy to operate. To guarantee that casualties are kept dry by an effective system a rescuer may be used as a “guinea pig” prior to its’ intended application. We tend to use four ropes and maximise heights, system stretch is notoriously difficult to counter and removes the tendency for operators to needlessly over tighten rope cableways.

Cableway ropes should not be tensioned with any more than a 3:1 pulley operated by one person.