Rope Rescue

From PCSAR

PCSAR and Pincher Creek Emergency Services are forming a joint rope rescue team. It is hoped that by having a single team between the two organizations, that we will be able to maintain a level of training and involvement that will allow the joint team to respond to incidents in the mandate for either organization.

The PCSAR board has given approval in principle to the formation of joint team. They will consider a more detailed mandate and budget for the team as they are developed.

Contents 1 Joining 2 Planning 2.1 To do 3 Needs Analysis 3.1 Forecast of Incidents 3.2 Other responders 3.3 Responders required 3.4 Roster requirements 4 Training 4.1 Training time and dollar budget 4.2 Subject matter 4.3 Schedule

Joining

If you are interested in becoming involved in the joint team, contact Brett Wuth as a member of PCSAR, or your officers as a member of Emergency Services.

PCSAR members interested:

• Brett Wuth
• Lyle Korver
• Bree Korobanik
• Brian Balak
• Ron Hann

Planning

A joint planning meeting between PCSAR, PCES, Piikani Fire Dept and Shell was held 2009-08-19.

A planning session was held after the wind turbine tour on 2009-09-12 between Dave Cox, Brett Wuth, Bree Korobanik, and Brian Balak.

2009-09-16 Pat and Brett discussed training requirements.

More planning sessions are anticipated. Contact Brett Wuth if you'd like to participate.

To do

• liabilities (Dave)
• explore financing options through Councils, AEMA, etc. (Dave)
• develop short term training plan (Pat, Brett)
  • determine course costs
  • schedule training (to do in early October)
    • refresher of basic skills
• recruitment (Bree, Brian)
• standards
• equipment
• regional mutual aid
• response capability
  • response time
  • radios
  • schedule
  • on-call/coverage

Needs Analysis

Forecast of Incidents

PCSAR

• Self Rescue (1 / 10 yr)
  • Searches often include steep areas where a searcher could potential have a mishap and require rescuing. Although searchers are trained and directed to avoid these hazards, PCSAR is better for having self-rescue capability should such an mishap occur.
• Wilderness low angle (1 / 5 yr)
  • A rescue occurs in a remote area where a person needs to be stretchered over low-angle terrain.
• Wilderness high angle (1 / 10 yr)
  • A rescue occurs where a person needs to be extracted from a steep slope or high-angle terrain. Stretcher may not be necessary, but the person cannot move safely without rope.
• Caves (1 / 5 yr)
  • The Crowsnest Pass is a prime area for novice and skilled cave trips. Many rope rescue responders are required inside the cave and possibly outside it. Typical responders are CNP SAR and ACRO. PCSAR could assist.
• Avalanche (0)
  • Avalanche response are unlikely to require rope rescue skills

PCES

• accessible embankment (2 / yr)
  • person or vehicle down embankment. Low angle techniques needed to safely extract.
• high angle (1 / 5 yr)
• bridges (1 / 3 yr)
  • A vehicle goes off a bridge deck and patient requires vertical raise.

Shell

• Above 40 feet (1 / 10 yr)
• Confined (1 / 5 yr)

Transalta

• Wind Turbine (1 / 10 yr)

Estimated average total of incidents per year: 3.4

Other responders

If a rope rescue team did not exist in our area, responses might be available from:

• CNP
• Waterton
• Fernie
• Kananaskis
• Banff

Responders required

• 1 person at "Team Leader" level
  • Able to direct and oversee the whole rope rescue.
• 2 people at "Team Member" level
  • Able to build and operate any station
• 2 people at "Basic Skills" level
  • Able to assist under direction

Roster requirements

Estimating that 1/3 of members are able to respond at any given time. Estimate is the same for both PCES and PCSAR members.

• Team Leader level: 3
• Team Member level: 6
• Basic Skills: 6 (but probably have lots)

Attrition:

Estimate that there is a 1 in 6 chance each year that any person on the roster (at any level) will leave or no longer be available and have to be replaced.

Training

Training time and dollar budget

• Basic Skills
  • estimated 4 hours of in-house training
  • most PCES have already been taught (S-300 course)
  • maintain skills
    • 2 hours per year
    • in-house refresher
  • roster: ~20

• Team Member
  • estimated total: 100 hours of in-house training, formal course, and practice
  • take a decent course
  • maintain skills
    • 20 hours practice per year
    • e.g. scenarios
  • roster: 6
    • attrition: 1 every year

• Team Leader
  • estimated total: 200 hours of in-house training, formal course, and practice
  • experience
  • maintain skills
    • 30 hours practice per year
    • e.g. scenarios
  • roster: 3
    • attrition: 1 every 2 years

totals:

• initial: ~1280 person*hr (less training people already have)
• maintain: ~250 person*hr

Subject matter

Potential training subjects:

• formal course
• in-house refresher of basic skills
• practice scenarios
• equipment checking (i.e. checking ropes)
• site safety assessment
• a helicopter safety talk

Schedule

Past: We had an initial exercise on 2009-05-27 which started the discussion of reviving the joint team.

• 2009-09-12 Transalta tour

Upcoming: to be announced

• in-house refresher of basic skills