Rope Construction and Care
Your life will quite literally depend upon the integrity of our team ropes. Failure of a rope during a rescue will almost certainly result in injury and quite possibly death of a subject or rescuer. We have never experienced an injury due to system failure; largely because of the care we give our equipment. Nylon…
Read MorePatient Transport Considerations
Patient transport in a team vehicle is a task that is periodically conducted by the Team. Patients/Subjects may be transported in several team vehicles but each has its own considerations when doing so. S1: A patient in a litter can be transported inside S1. The litter is placed on top of the middle and back…
Read MoreFigure Eight Family
The simple Figure 8 knot is of little practical use in rescue, as it does not join ropes together or create loops for attachment of carabiners. The practical variations of the Figure 8 knot all show two parallel ropes tied in a Figure 8 knot. The figure 8 does not need to be safetied, but…
Read MoreFigure Eight on a Bight
End-line knot and good end-line safety knot. Applications: Used wherever a loop is needed in the end of the rope for clipping carabiners. In EPCSAR, the figure 8 on a bight is used for: Load line for technical evacuations Tensionless anchor Piggyback hauling system Safety knot at the end of a rappel line to prevent…
Read MoreFigure Eight Retrace (AKA Figure Eight Follow Through)
The Figure 8 Retrace is identical in form to the Figure 8 on a Bight. It is used when the end of the rope is to be tied around or through something. It is the usual knot used by rock climbers to tie into their harnesses. While this is a common practice and makes for…
Read MoreSquare Knot
The square knot is used to tie the two ends of a single line together such that they will secure something, for example a bundle of objects. In SAR the only place we use a square knot is to finish the creation of a NASAR webbing harness. Applications: This knot is used in SAR to…
Read MoreDouble Sheet Bend
While the double sheet bend is frequently used to tie two ropes of dissimilar diameters, it has come into common use in mountain rescue for joining two ropes of the same diameter. Both tails of the double sheet bend must be safetied. VARIATION: Double SHeet Bend on a FIgure Eight on a Bight Applications: Used…
Read MoreHigh Strength Bowline
End-line knot. The classic way to remember how to tie the bowline is as follows: There is a tree next to a rabbit hole. (Make sure the tree comes up from under the hole) The rabbit (the tail of the rope) comes up out of the hole, runs around the tree (twice), and goes back…
Read MoreWater Knot
Used for webbing only. Does not require a safety, although long tails should be left on both sides of the knot. Application: For joining two pieces of webbing or for forming a sling. This knot will slip with time and load. Load the knot firmly before use. When tied, there should be approximately four-inch tails…
Read MoreButterfly (AKA Alpine Butterfly)
Mid-line knot. Probably the best mid-line knot due to the fact that it can be loaded in either direction. Applications: Used for mid-line rigging where you might need to clip a carabiner into the middle of the rope. Advantages: Can be loaded in either direction. Unties easily after loading. Disadvantages: Takes practice to tie correctly.…
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