2010-11-09 Rope Rescue training

Tuesday November 9, 2010

19:00 - 21:00 at the Fire Hall

Rope Rescue practice.

Agenda:
 * Communications
 * (from BC PEP RRM Chapter 11)
 * Describe the need for clear, standard terminology and protocols
 * Use verbal rescue signals proficiently
 * Use whistle rescue signals proficiently
 * Rescue Operations
 * (from BC PEP RRM Chapter 14)
 * Describe the need and process of preplanning
 * Outline the role of the Initial Response Team
 * Describe the elements of a successful rope rescue
 * Rope Rescue in Pincher Creek
 * (from BC PEP RRM Chapter 1)
 * How rope rescue relates to SAR / Emergency Services
 * Describe the training process of a rope rescue Team Member
 * Describe the training process of a rope rescue Team Leader
 * Describe the Incident Commander's role in rope rescue
 * 1 year organization review
 * what we've accomplished
 * where we want to get to

Covered:
 * Communications
 * (from BC PEP RRM Chapter 11)
 * Describe the need for clear, standard terminology and protocols
 * Use verbal rescue signals proficiently
 * Use whistle rescue signals proficiently
 * Rescue Operations
 * (from BC PEP RRM Chapter 14)
 * Describe the need and process of preplanning
 * Outline the role of the Initial Response Team
 * Describe the elements of a successful rope rescue
 * Rope Rescue in Pincher Creek
 * (from BC PEP RRM Chapter 1)
 * How rope rescue relates to SAR / Emergency Services
 * Describe the training process of a rope rescue Team Member
 * Describe the training process of a rope rescue Team Leader
 * 1 year organization review
 * what we've accomplished
 * where we want to get to

Notes from the organizational review:

We've managed to sustain the team for one year, having training every month.

The plan to have a formal course was not realized. The monthly training has morphed into the formal training. 2 hours a month is not well suited to build new learning. We will complete the current cycle in February and then repeat the material in 3 or 4 6-hour Saturday sessions, 1 per month. After that, the 2 hours a month should be suitable for sustaining our training level.

Dan is working on getting text books. Brett will provide the current text name.

Shara will act as our record keeper. Determine our gaps in training based on past attendance.

Based on our assumption that people will only be available for a response a third of the time, we do not have enough people participating in training for Team Member level. We need to roughly double our participants. Hopefully a more compact training schedule (6-hour sessions) will encourage better attendance. We will recruit more from our existing organizations (PCSAR, PCES). We will recruit from the public.

Training during inclement weather can be done in the fire hall bays. Dan will look at construction of movable anchors (not for real loads) to set up various anchoring scenarios.

Our notification system is not tuned to our needs. PCES members do not generally monitor their radios when they are not on call. PCSAR call-out system is slow for a rescue scenario. Shara will develop a notification system for rope rescue members based around text and voice messaging. PCES will explore radio features that will encourage radios to be left on without disruption of regular traffic. Emergency Management (disaster services) is looking at a general purpose emergency notification system that may be available in about a year.