Only equipment issued by the Sarasota County Fire Department shall be used for self rescue.

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1 DATE Revised 10/24/11 SARASOTA COUNTY GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTIVE VOLUME #2 FIRE OPERATIONS NUMBER #228 CATEGORY STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE SUBJECT SELF-RESCUE FROM BUILDINGS USING ROPE Purpose: The possibility of an emergency egress from a multistory building cannot be ignored. Firefighting personnel must be versed in the procedures and methods required to safely exit the building. This SOP will provide the necessary fundamentals for this type of evolution. It must be understood that this practice can result in injury or death if not properly completed. Personnel should review this procedure and apply these techniques in a training atmosphere as often as necessary to maintain proficiency. Only equipment issued by the Sarasota County Fire Department shall be used for self rescue. Units arriving on-scene of a working fire within a multistory building shall bring the self-rescue bag to the staging area designated by command. When a fire attack, ventilation, or search team is operating at or above the fire floor, the self-rescue bag(s) will accompany these teams. Inventory: Each first out engine, ladder truck, and stand alone rescues (E.M.S. stations) will carry the following equipment as part of its permanent inventory: ½ rescue rope (1) - orange bag marked Self Rescue (1) - 7 anchor strap (6) - steel carabineers (5) - steel figure-eight plates Rope Markings: Black Rescue rope, used only for self rescue and/or victim rescue Yellow Training rope, used for rope rescue training. Log book kept for this type of rope at the appropriate facility (training, station 8, etc). Rope shall be inspected before and after each use. Red or No Color Work rope, lifting equipment and tying off to vehicles etc. Storage: The self-rescue equipment will be stored in the orange bag marked self-rescue. The self-rescue bag will be stored in an apparatus compartment that is clean, dry, and dust-free. Do not store the self-rescue bag in a compartment with motorized equipment or hydrocarbons (gasoline, oil, hydraulic fluid, etc.) No part of the Self Rescue Bag (including carabineers, 8 plates, and anchor straps) shall be removed from the bag for routine or daily use. SELF-RESCUE FROM BUILDINGS USING ROPE 1

2 Self Rescue Checklist: - Self rescue equipment shall be checked every shift during equipment checks. - On the first Saturday of every month, the equipment shall be inspected by the station crews and deficiencies shall be noted on the Monthly Inspection Checklist. This checklist shall be maintained in a file in the station and the Special Operations Coordinator shall be made aware of any deficiencies that are noted. o All rope shall be inspected following the guidelines set forth in the current version of the Essentials of Firefighting text. o All hardware (carabineers, anchor straps, harnesses, etc) shall be inspected for obvious wear o or signs of corrosion. Any questions regarding the process of inspecting rope or hardware or the condition of any items, shall be referred to the on-duty Special Operations Officer or the Special Operations Program Manager. - On June 1 st of each year a complete inspection of all self-rescue rope and equipment will be done by trained Rope Rescue Technicians. This inspection will be documented on the Annual Rope Inspection Report Form and sent to the Special Operations Program Manager for review and filing. - Completion of both the monthly inspection checklist and the annual rope inspection report form shall be documented in the station log book. Deployment of Self-Rescue Equipment: If it becomes necessary to leave the building due to deteriorating conditions: Procedure: Transmit a MAYDAY Encountering the need to quickly exit a building due to deteriorating conditions meets the criteria of a MAYDAY situation, and should be transmitted accordingly. Notify command of your actions and inform them of your egress point. If you are unable to notify command DO NOT delay your exit. This procedure is used when all other options, such as alternate means of egress or an area of safe refuge, have failed. This procedure is used only as a last option. Attempt to exit the building on the same side as the apparatus. Select a bomb-proof anchor point and wrap with 7 nylon strap. o Bomb-proof means something of permanence, i.e., a column, a standpipe, large AC units, etc. o Keep your anchor points low. DO NOT use refrigerators, stoves, sofas, beds, etc. Connect to the anchor strap with a double loop figure eight knot. Dump the rope out of bag and deploy the lifeline out window (keep rope bag for edge protection). Use edge protection (rope bag, curtains, carpet, sofa cushions, bed sheets, etc.) Hook into system and rappel (head first bailout) Re-enter building if necessary. Use of Secondary Bunker Gear: As bunker gear cleaning is arranged for each station, loaner harnesses shall be obtained from the Battalion Chief for each of the following seated positions: Three for rescues, three for engines, three for ladder trucks and squads, and any other as needed. This will insure that floaters and volunteers riding in units have harnesses available. Once gear cleaning has been completed, all harnesses will be collected by the Battalion Chief and moved to the next station within their Battalion scheduled for cleaning service. If a firefighter must change into a set of gear that does not have an integrated harness, they will contact their Battalion Chief and arrange for a loaner harness. The loaner harness shall be carried with the floater at all times and returned to his/her Battalion Chief when their primary gear is returned. SELF-RESCUE FROM BUILDINGS USING ROPE 2

3 Battalion Chiefs Shall maintain 14 loaner harnesses. This will provide sufficient quantity to insure that loaner harnesses are available for scheduled gear cleaning and other unique needs. How to don the loaner harness: (refer to video on training web page) The harness shall be donned each time the bunker gear is donned. Place the harness inside the bunker pants. Don the harness, tighten the waist strap, and tighten the thigh straps. Don the bunker pants. Rope / Hardware Inspection General Guidelines In accordance with NFPA 1983 and manufacturer instructions, all rope and equipment should be inspected on a regular basis. When inspecting rope and hardware, the following should be considered to assist in determining the Good, Fair, and Poor conditions. It should be emphasized that any questions regarding the process of inspecting rope or hardware, or questions regarding the condition of equipment should be immediately referred to the on-duty Special Operations Officer or the Special Operations Program Manager for consultation. Rope Inspection: GOOD FAIR POOR No discoloration present No foul smells No abrasions, roughness, or fuzziness. Appears in new condition Minor fuzziness present Minor abrasions present (not penetrating the outer sheath) Presence of normal wear. Excessive wear Great amount of fuzziness Significant abrasions, etc. Should be referred to the on-duty Special Ops crew or Special Ops Program Manager. Rope Hardware Inspection (carabineers, 8 plates, anchor straps, etc): GOOD FAIR POOR Minor discoloration present Minor wear present No rust or corrosion No sharp edges or burrs. No discoloration No rust or corrosion No obvious wear marks Appears in new condition Excessive wear Rust or corrosion present Gate doesn t close properly Cracks present Burrs or sharp edges Should be removed from service and referred to the on-duty Special Ops crew or Special Ops Program Manager for consultation. SELF-RESCUE FROM BUILDINGS USING ROPE 3

4 SARASOTA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT Rope Self-Rescue Bag Monthly Inspection Checklist Station: Unit: Date of Inspection: / / Name of person performing inspection: ID Number: THE BAG Where is the rope self rescue bag stored? Is the storage area appropriate and free of contaminates? Is the bag clearly marked with unit number? & Self Rescue Overall bag condition? Good Fair Poor THE ROPE Rope Number: Rope Service Date: Rope Color: (Example white w/ red markings, red w/ white markings) Rope Inspection: Overall Condition: Good Fair Poor Carabineers Eight Plates Anchor Straps How many? Steel Additional Comments: This form shall be filed and maintained in the Station. Notify Special Operations Program Manager of any deficiencies. SELF-RESCUE FROM BUILDINGS USING ROPE 4

5 SARASOTA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT Rope Self-Rescue Bag Annual Rope Inspection Report Form Station: Unit: Date of Inspection: / / Name of Technician performing Inspection: ID Number THE BAG Where is the rope self rescue bag stored? Is the storage area appropriate and free of contaminates? Is the bag clearly marked with unit number? & Self Rescue Overall bag condition? Good Fair Poor THE ROPE Rope Number: Rope Service Date: Rope Color: (Example white w/ red markings, red w/ white markings) Rope Inspection: Overall Condition: Good Fair Poor Carabineers Eight Plates Anchor Straps How many? Steel Additional Comments: Please send the completed form to the Special Operations Program Manager. SELF-RESCUE FROM BUILDINGS USING ROPE 5