Rope Techniques & Line Management for Confined Space Rescue

Featuring Reeta the adorable USAR K9

[@afternoondoggo2287]

love the vid my dream is be part of that and at least learn it

[@jayjamali2485]

Bob as always great video on line management. Couple of recommendations: when teaching confined space rescue I always require the attendant to be tied off if they come within 6 feet of hole and to stay at the hole as long as a rescuer is in the hole. Also why are you using manual locking carabiners? In your other videos you use self locking ones (It is an OSHA violation). Also we teach to carry the rope bag and tie the free end at landing. Reason is that as soon as you go around a bend the friction of rescue rope usually snags the rope. But overall well done. Keep up the good work. J

[@Propeller_Head]

Thanks, & spot-on observations. Under normal operating & training conditions, as well as when we teach, we are also tied off on fall restraint systems when near the hole, however in this video if we omitted that then that was by design because it interfered with our ability to get the video content & narration I was looking for. But yes you are correct. You are also correct on the connectors. Technically if we want to adhere to strict verbiage of OSHA then all the carabiners not only need to be auto-locking but also have that beefy 16Kn gate strength. Most all of the auto-locking carabiners that I use in other videos are my own. My department only has screw-lock, which are common for many fire departments out there….. There’s the letter of the law, then there’s the spirit of the law.

[@perryfire3006]

Have you considered a slip/stop knot below the Rescusender when raising the FF's? It has the potential for releasing rather dramatically haha should it rest on the lip of hole or any other hard point if it is leveraged just right. Interesting base anchor btw. I don't know that I've ever seen that done before.

[@Propeller_Head]

We thought about it but didn’t want to inadvertently leave knots in the line just in case someone forgot to untie it before raising the next person… for fear of getting hung up at the top of the VORTEX… but a good thing to consider for sure

[@SCFD_Unofficial]

Always educational and we appreciate the videos. What is the make of the packaging device? Does your dept isolate prusiks that are used for confined space rescue from other rope operations? I have become annoyed that we use rope rescue prusik cords when dragging and operating in confined space areas and then stick them back in our primary bag as if they weren’t just abused.

[@Propeller_Head]

Thanks! It’s manufactured by Yates. We have the same problems & frustrations in our organization. We are hard on our gear & don’t have any separate rope gear dedicated to confined space. I cringe when I see people grabbing webbing, cordage, & ropes that are in our rope rescue bags & start using them in vehicle extrication & trench applications.

[@hugotripp]

Great explanation, i rig it quite similar! One consideration: all my entrants ared tied from the chest ring to the ropes, because in case of rescuer's unconsciousness or second rope failure a rescue up can become quite a challenge.

[@Propeller_Head]

Thanks. I see your point on having that primary working line connected higher on the sternal point instead of the ventral point to ensure a more upright position in the event of unconsciousness…. agreed, also an acceptable option

[@mightybadula]

16:02 is that a firefighter bailout hook?

[@Propeller_Head]

Yes, from CMC

[@mightybadula]

@@Propeller_Head hey man thanks for all the time and effort you and your crew put into these videos. Super educational. Reignited my passion for this stuff and have been “nerding out” to a few of your play lists. Thank you !

[@Propeller_Head]

Thanks, glad you’re finding it useful!