Equipment Support:
The modern technical rescue industry has provided us with an endless line of new, very efficient, specialized equipment for almost every use imaginable. Special use equipment can make life very easy during a rescue, especially urban/industrial rescues such as; high-rise, confined space, and structural towers.
Keep it simple! In almost all rescues simple is better, this includes using equipment that is multi-purpose, therefor, promotes efficient management, and space conservation.
Below is a sample of the type of multi-purpose equipment that we typically see with rope rescue.
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Webbing – can be used for anchor connections, ascending, making etriers, diaper sling, and pick-off straps.
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33’ of 9mm cordelettes – used for making load releasing hitches, personal edge restraint, lashing, and back-ties.
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6mm purrcells – can be used for ascending, victim attachments for pick-offs, and the primary attachment for the litter attendant.
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Cams, Tapers, Hexes, and other rock pro – used for personal and system advanced anchor construction.
How do you arrange equipment bags, haul bags, and backpacks? This is a question that must be agreed on between team members. There are no two teams that pack equipment the same way. The typical response area of the team, urban or industrial verses wilderness determines much of this subject. When substantial backpacking is the norm, use a high quality backpack that includes an internal or external frame and a waist belt support system. Don’t skimp on your backpack, the learning curve on this is very short!
In general, a mainline cache can be packed into a single large pack, and the same thing holds true for the belay cache. Additional equipment should be packed as needed, hopefully, divided equally among each team member. The following inventories are typical of what might be found in a mainline kit and a belay line kit: (suggested examples only)
Mainline: Belay Line:
300’ of ½ inch Static Rope 300’ of ½ inch Static Rope
10 Steel Carabiners 6 Steel Carabiners
1 Rigging Plate 2__9mm Cordelettes
2 9mm Cordelettes 3 Large 8mm Loops
3 Large 8mm Loops 3 Small 8mm Loops
3 Small 8mm Loops 2 30’ Long Webbing
2 30’ Long Webbing 2 20’ Long Webbing
2 20’ Long Webbing 3 15’ Long Webbing
3 15’ Long Webbing 3 10’ Long Webbing
3 10’ Long Webbing 1 PMP (Prusik Minding Pulley)
2 2” to 4” Double Pulleys
4 2” to 4” Single Pulleys
1 PMP (Prusik Minding Pulley)
1 System Brake Rack
Suggested “Personal” Rigging/Rescue Equipment:
Class “3” Harness
Helmet
Rappel Gloves
6 Aluminum Carabiners
1 Brake Rack
1 15’ Long Webbing
2 10’ Long Webbing
3 8mm Prusiks Loops (1 Short, 2 Long)
1 8mm or 9mm Cordelette
Software
Rope
Kernmantle rope is the most common rope used for rescue operations. (Because of its floating properties polypropylene is sometimes used in swiftwater rescue.) Kernmantle rope is constructed of a load‑bearing core, or "kern", of nylon fibers surrounded by a braided, protective outer sheath, or "mantle". The core is completely protected by the mantle and holds most of the load. It has a high strength to weight ratio, and maintains most of its strength when wet (approximately 85%). Kernmantle rope comes in two types; Dynamic and Static.
Dynamic rope consists of twisted or bundles that make up the core. This twisted core provides a high stretch quality. This allows as much as 40% stretch in the rope, depending on the manufacturer. Dynamic rope is very important in rescue work solely for the purpose of belaying a lead climber.
In contrast, static kernmantle rope stretches very little, from 2‑4% under load. This type of rope is made from an outer braided sheath (mantle) which is woven over straight nylon fiber core (kern). The core supports 85% of the rope's strength.
"Static" kernmantle rope is used for rigging rescue system because of its high strength, low stretch and handling characteristics.
Below is equipment offered through AHS Rescue:
Warranty
