Vertical Training Weekend Report

This weekend was planned for a number of VRA squad members who have completed most of the training but haven't been available on assessment days. We had 7 trainees in total. One from BWRS, Peter R, three from Cave Rescue and three from VRA squads. PCA was the assessor with Dug F, Mark D, Kevin D helping out. This was the first Assessment for the new RTO for Vertical Rescue, and Bill Proctor (a BWRS member) from Safety Access Rescue was along to quality control the modified training program.

A number of needed changes to the perform Vertical Rescue Competency meant that this is the first course for the modified system. Instead of specifying particular equipment and system rigs for the load line and belay line, we now specify:-

A Lowering device (for load-line lowering),
A Hauling device (for load-line lifting),
A Progressive Capture device for the load line,
A Belay device (on the safety belay line, for up and down),

Operate a high-line,
Casualty access,
Stretcher Attendant,

The last three competencies haven't changed significantly.

We have had some dismal weather in the few days leading to this weekend. But Weatherzone and BOM forecast cloudy, cold for both days, with the chance of a shower Sunday evening. And so it turned out, ideal weather for vertical training.
Saturday

We met at Lawson in SAR training facility, 8am sharp on a cold frost morning. The welcome and formalities were soon completed and we started with the first hands-on. Two vertical rescue system rigs were set-up joined in opposition to each other (so one had a "down" while the other had an "up"):-

System 1: the equipment standard in most VRA Squads, a whaletail lowering device, twin prusiks attached to a load-release hitch just behind the lowering device to act as a belay for lifting or a progressive capture device for lowering and a mechanical advantage lifting system, twin prusiks attached to a load-release hitch as a belay device on the belay line.
System 2: two Petzl IDs, one on the load line as lowering device, progressive capture device and change of direction pulley to rig the mechanical advantage, the other on the belay-line as belay device.

Everyone got a chance to operate all equipment on an up and a down, very necessary as only one of the trainees had operated all of the different systems before. There are tricks to learn to operate each piece of equipment efficiently.

Some of the trainees who were unfamiliar with the ID got to ascend and then descend a rope using the ID as an ascending devices then used it as an abseil device. A good way to quickly get a feel for the fine control need to work the ID.

At the same time the rest of the crew started rigging a skate block highline. We rigged this with a load cell so that we could measure the loads generated in use. Everyone got to use the system and we all got a surprise with the high loads generated, because in this case, the system was at a little short, with a flat angle, due to the lack of space inside the facility for this operation. In hind-site it would have been better to extend the line outside the building using a vehicle as an anchor. This was discussed but we were on a tight time schedule.

During our late lunch Bill demonstrated a set up of a free standing anchor point using non working tensioning/adjustable guys, to show that you can position an anchor just where you need it, at a comfortable working-height, using a minimum of equipment.

After lunch we discussed mechanical advantage and one method of working out the loads at various positions within a system; the T method. Very revealing, force loads on anchors can quickly become much higher than you may expect, this particularly applies to redirections.

Then on, working with the highline in different configuration. We finished the day watching a video of Dan Osman "rope jumping", using the same nylon rope we use in vertical rescue. Dan is a expert vertical rigger doing some dare devil jumping from extreme heights, the rope rigged to stand the shock and protect the person – living life to the max you would say. Some might say Dan was over the top, but his work proves to us the versatility of the nylon rope we use, and provided some extrordinary testing. As with all our training there are lessons for us all. The nylon kernmantle rope we use is extremly robust as demonstrated in the video, BUT Check, check, check then have others check, before you use the system you have built.

A successful day even if we didn't have time to work with lifting and lowering stretches and were packing up on dark. Thank you Bill for your input and the use of your training facility.
Sunday
We met at Yellow Rock climbing site ready to start rigging at 8am. A dull overcast day in a delightful situation with views over the Mountains bush and Nepean River way down below. There was a hint of showers over the plains to the east, but luckily they weren't coming this far west. The cliffs 10 – 20 m high, some overhangs and other awkward bits, just right for assessment exercises

The first exercise was to demonstrate casualty access. A single responder is required to access the situation, locate a missing person (casualty), rig for rope access, descend the cliff face and perform primary and then secondary first aid assessment. Most responders abseiled down and jugged up, but one (carrying an injury) rigged for lowering and were lowered in, then hauled out to ascend. This went reasonably well to be completed before 10am.

I can't think of a more scenic location to hold these exercises, lovely. The weather was still good, just starting to warm up a little.

The next assessment was to perform all the roles for vertical rescue: rig the load and belay lines, lower the stretcher with attendant, the access person abseils in, to assist loading the casualty. Then raising the stretcher, the access helps with the stretcher while jugging up. These multiple roles involved with a vertical rescue are assessed and each person requires at least one (preferably more, although all have extensive experience on rope) demonstration for each:-

Rescue Team Captain, who oversees the operation using the resources available to advantage;
Edge manager, who rigs safety ropes and watch the operation from the cliff edge, relaying calls and messages between those on top and those below;
Stretcher attendant, who prepares the stretcher for lower and controls the stretcher and manages the casualty during "down" and then "up", after having loaded the casualty into the stretcher;
Stretcher access, who abseils down to assist the stretcher attendant load and secure the casualty, then ascends assisting with the stretcher as required;
Belay line attendant, who rigs the belay system and controls the belay "down" and "up";
Load line captain who supervises the load line/haul team rig the load line for "down" and prepare mechanical advantage for the haul team "up";
Haul team who check the whole system and assist with the setup of the load line and then do the grunt work during the "up".

Usually we have a casualty from the trainees but we had just enough for each role so we helpers has to get into the stretcher. Shows we have supreme confidence in the people we train, 15m down is a long enough way. Getting the stretcher over a rolling top edge is the hard bit, requiring skill and strength. Might add most found Dug a tad heavy to manhandle so they complained, Mark didn't get as many complaints tho :-).

It was a busy day and we could have done with a couple of more rescue cycles, but it was still 4:30 by the time we packed up, late enough. We went without lunch and in retrospect that was an error, we won't go with that again.

We had just finished the debrief when rrrrrththrrrrththpppth the rain pounded down, luckily we had the shelter-shed, so we and the gear stayed dry. Also luckily it let up so that we could load the vehicles to go home.

Considering the rain overnight and next day we had a brilliant weekend. Well done to all who participated, we had a very busy weekend and it was a learning curve for us all. This course has a deliberately high standard; we want to ensure the operators safety in a potentially dangerous environment.

Thank you everyone for giving up your weekend to participate and make sure we have trained emergency services personnel ready to carry out that vertical rescue. All at no cost to the community.

THANK YOU:-Bill, Tony, Paul, Mark, Kevin, Peter R, Peter B, Carolyn, Meredith, Ian, Dave G, Dug.

This report was written by Doug Floyd of BWRS and was reproduced with permission.