Advanced Training – TW Domain – Aerial Rescue (Tree Rescue) Rope & Harness Module

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Aerial Rescue / Tree Rescue Facts

The arborist industry is the only industry in the world that uses a Doubled Rope Technique (DdRT) for work at height? When Fire/Rescue is called to bring down an injured climber and if they can’t get to the victim with their ladder truck, it takes them an average time of 2.5 to 3 hours to get the injured climber safely to the ground, because they don’t know how to access the injured climber in the tree. YOU CAN HELP SAVE A LIFE!

Course Description

This is a hands-on course and will show the different rescue techniques available to the climbing arborist. We will go through the Aerial Rescue Flowchart in the ANSI Z133-2017 step by step to help determine the correct sequence to take when a rescue is needed. The rescue techniques demonstrated are:

• Double climbing hitch method (the safest method) when both the rescuer and patient descend on their own climbing system
• “D” ring rescue. The victim’s rope and/or harness is compromised, both the rescuer and patient descend on the rescuers climbing system.
• Pulley rescue. The victim is lowered from a pre-installed life support pulley and rope friction device/mechanical descender that they were working from.
• Bucket rescue. The rescuer has no climbing experience but knows how to operate an aerial lift, which is on site. The rescuer positions the aerial lift in the appropriate location to facilitate a rescue and works the patients climbing hitch and lowers the aerial lift simultaneously.
• Spar rescue (the most time-consuming rescue). The climber suffers an injury while cutting from a spar. There are no lateral limbs or stubs to tie into. The rescuer climbs the spar to the patient, installs a false crotch for their climbing system and lowers the patient from the false crotch.

Each attendee will have the chance to perform a “Double Climbing Hitch Rescue” from a height of 25 feet.

Equipment Requirements

• Head protection that meets the ANSI Z89 Standard
• Eye protection that meets the ANSI Z87 Standard
• Work boots that cover the ankle
• Work positioning harness
• Work positioning lanyard
• Climbing rope that meets the ANSI-2017 Standard

Provided Equipment

• Aerial lift truck
• Necessary equipment to perform the above rescues
• Climbing spurs with pole gaffs

Day One

Meet on site. Introduce each other. Go over a briefing of the day’s course with the group. Distribute the handouts. Demonstrate a “Double Friction Hitch” rescue technique. Have the attendees perform a “Double friction hitch” rescue technique. Demonstrate only the remaining 4 rescue techniques, going over the advantages and limitations of each method. Each participant will be graded on their individual performance on the rescue protocol and technique.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the Aerial Rescue course, each participant will gain the knowledge of (1) what hazards to look for in an aerial rescue (2) the ANSI Z133-2017 Aerial Rescue Flowchart {the proper sequence of steps to take to make a rescue happen} (3) actually performing a rescue, bringing a mock injured climber down from a height of 25 feet (4) how to perform the other 4 rescue techniques.

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