The Seven Minimalist Rescue Archetypes

Transcription

1 Seven Minimalist Rescue Archetypes 1 The Seven Minimalist Rescue Archetypes Introduction: Evolution of the idea at RTR The Seven Minimalist Rescue Archetypes (or SMRA) has evolved from several years of critical thinking in the field of rope rescue. They are basically pick off style rescues of minimalist origin employing either one or two rescuers. The term came from what had come to be called The Six Rescue Archetypes. Earlier than that, in early 2003, a sixth had been added to the then Five Rescue Archetypes of that day. You should get the picture. Late in 2006 as this is being written, a seventh archetype has joined the grouping. Hence the name Seven Minimalist Rescue Archetypes. They are so named from a careful distillation of techniques precipitated by rescue practitioners having begun in recent years in carrying and using a seemingly personal mechanical advantage, or jigger system as it were. A truly personal mechanical advantage in a bag or kit carried on the hip by the rescue practitioner is a novel idea but certainly nothing new. There were hints in rescue literature way back 20 years ago that this was naturally occurring. The introduction of the SMRA in this document is a reflection of the so called AZTEK Kit which has been a staple of all Ropes That Rescue courses in the USA, Australia and New Zealand since the late 90 s. After years of the evolution of the AZTEK form a simple edge kit/travel restrict to truly having two ends (considered each respectively as the PERSONAL END and the SYSTEM END) the kit uses began to escalate at a feverish pitch. It was after the including of the system end in RTR courses during 1998 which we will call the mechanical advantage end that the solo and semi solo minimalist pick off rescues began to take shape. Subsequent to this date (being around 2001) during the time of development of the 2-ended AZTEK, RTR began taking steps with Sterling Rope to develop stitched AZTEK accessory cords, ratchets and Purcell-like shock absorbing connections. Early drop testing of both ends of the stitched AZTEKs at Sterling Rope orchestrated by Sam Morton lead the way to a solid following at RTR by it s students. Today, according to Sam 90% of the sales of the Arizona AZTEK stitched products has originated with RTR. It then appears that RTR has been at the forefront of the introduction of the personal mechanical advantage idea. Confusion over exactly what the AZTEK is abounds. It is more than just an edge kit and more than just a personal MA. It is both in one. The personal end has a shock absorbing/travel restrict end useful for a so many things, and a system end where the bulk of the Seven Minimalist Rescue Archetypes are found. (For more information on the development of the AZTEK please refer to that document.) Simple versus complex rescues While rescuers of today seem to clamor around the more sophisticated techniques available to them, many times the ever so simple true rope rescue techniques are overlooked the proverbial cart before the horse. It is certainly noted that many rescuers thriving to erect the long and high highline over that canyon out there are not seriously going to use it any time soon (Some may have trouble tying the knots needed to get it constructed!) It seems to the casual observer of the stampede to more complicated rescue systems that perhaps we ought to master the simple ones first. They must be on the level of being instinctual since they are performed with minimal personnel, if not completely solo.

2 Seven Minimalist Rescue Archetypes 2 Team-Based versus Rescuer-Based Rescue techniques or systems revolving around several members of a team working together to pull them off are what have come to be know as team-based rescue techniques. A team consists of half a dozen (or more, in some circumstances) rescuers. Highlines in rescue require a team of highly trained people to pull it off. The stampede mentioned earlier are many times attributable to the team-based techniques since this is the dominion where groups of trained personnel can basically keep an eye on each others actions, making the operation safer as a result. A slew of double checks and, in some cases, triple checks will be performed before anyone enters the hazard zone in most cases. If someone on that team is slightly behind the eight ball or somehow hindered by lack of understanding or personal skills, they can easily be assimilated into the group, and still feel like they can contribute substantially to the team s efforts in the rescue. It is no wonder then that this is where most rescuers today begin the process of learning the discipline. Rescue techniques revolving around only one, two or possibly three rescue practitioners are what we have come to know as rescuer-based rescue techniques. Some of these techniques (as is the case with #1 in the SMRA) do not have a rescuers in any over the edge exposure in performing the rescue of the victim hanging over the edge. This is still rescuer-based as really only one or two rescuers are needed here. In sharp contrast to team-based rescue techniques, rescuer-based techniques are not a place for the average skill level. The reason may be obvious here as there is not a set of checks and balances no place for double or triple checks as previously mentioned. Mistakes in rigging may go unnoticed and can then consequently lead to there being two who need rescue rather then one. Rescuers who are intent on performing these minimalist style pick off rescues need to have all their ducks in a row, so to speak. Hence, I think you can see that while RISK for the team as a whole goes down due to the fact that there may in fact be less people in exposure, the RISK for the actual individual rescuer over the edge in one of the SMRA goes up! If they make a mistake, there is no one to catch it high in the air. This classic difference cannot be understated.

3 Seven Minimalist Rescue Archetypes 3 Quick Look TEAM-BASED versus RESCUER-BASED RESCUES TEAM-BASED RESCUER-BASED Advantages Disadvantages Advantages Disadvantages Collective effort with entire team involved No collective effort Rescuer is many times on their own More eyes on safety: Double/triple checks Less eyes on safety Easier for critical error Better environment for lesser trained on team Not good environment for lesser trained Risk for team as a whole goes DOWN Risk for individual rescuer goes UP Does not require Must have AZTEK or personal MA or AZTEK Affords better rescue options on wider variety of circumstances Sometimes harder to get team on same page Multiple plans/players More specialized equipment needed Can increase patient hang time Easier to get rescue off the ground Single plan/rescuer Less specialized equipment needed Can get patient to ground much quicker equivalent personal MA Affords less options for rescue Standard pick off only

4 Seven Minimalist Rescue Archetypes 4 No Rescuer, Solo Rescue or Semi Solo Rescue? The question is: How many rescuers are needed? This would certainly depend on the victim s condition while hanging in their harness. A critically injured victim is not a candidate for minimalist rescue involving a pick off (However, it should be noted that in pole top rescue for linemen, minimalist hand line rescue of critically injured or burned coworkers is permitted and, of course, encouraged). Pick off rescues are really meant for getting a non-injured, or slightly injured victim to the ground before the injury is increased due to a number of factors (like hang time and harnessinduced pathology). So, depending on the circumstances, a quick patient assessment will need to be done first BEFORE rescue technique will be decided upon. Location of victim is also a huge factor. Are they in a harness, hanging from the posterior D ring? Or, are they up on something without a harness at all? These items are summed up in the list below: EARLY CRITERIA in determining Rescue Style 1. Scene assessment: Is the scene safe? 2. Patient assessment a. ABC s b. Length of time hanging? (H.I.P.) c. Ill, non injured, slightly injured, critically injured d. Life threatening situation? e. Panicked? 3. Position of rescue team members (how soon do you need to act?) 4. Location of victim 5. Harness or no 6. Connection location on victims harness (rear D or elsewhere?) 7. Can you get above victim? To Belay or Not to Belay? The decision to belay evolutions within the vertical realm is assumes in most cases. A teams established belay protocol should be strictly adhered to in all cases. All techniques shown here in the SMRA should at all times be belayed during training while the practitioners are concentrating on mastery of the skills needed. In that, there can be no doubt. Of course, there should also be the ability to remain flexible when mitigating circumstances present themselves during an actual rescue. In some cases, there may be times where speed of rescue is paramount, offsetting the need for a belay. This is of course a team call. In all cases, the belay is shown in association with all the SMRA. Whether each technique is belayed by whatever means (true belay or self belay) the practitioners should understand and know the consequences of not having this insurance against failure. How many Rescuers are needed for a top-down pick off? Generally, with a simple pick off-style rope rescue, only one competent rescuer is needed to make contact with, and address, the victim. Most of the time, the best direction to approach the victim is from above and, hence, why this direction is the only one covered in the SMRA. These techniques are all top down in nature the rescuer descends by whatever means via a fixed brake or on a

5 Seven Minimalist Rescue Archetypes 5 traveling brake on a fixed line (obviously, there are considerable advantages and disadvantages to each that we will address later). There is considerable time expended in getting a rescuer over the edge, and if time is off the essence, this may be bypassed altogether. In the first of the SMRA, you will notice that the rescue takes place without the rescuer entering the vertical realm at all. The rescue uses the extant system in place suspending the victim and uses it to enact the rescue. In other of the SMRA, you will notice that some of the rescue pick off movement is shared between that rescuer over the edge and the second team member on top. If this is the case, then these are referred to in our camp as semi-solo rescues (or, NOT solo in nature, yet in close similarity with it). The SMRA are then built upon a foundation of simple to more complex. Not only are the systems such, but the number of rescuers needed also builds from the first to the seventh. The reason for this is to give as much latitude as possible in the decision making of HOW to make the top-down pick off given the circumstances. The analogy comes to mind of a master carpenter who has a myriad