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Vacuum Full-Body and Leg Splints and Cervical Collars
History Vacuum splint technology began development in Europe during the 1970’s and crude devices arrived in the U.S. during the mid-1980s. EPCSAR began using vacuum splints in 1991 to facilitate difficult patient evacuations. In 2014, El Paso County fire departments and ambulances began adopting the technology. As you can see, EPCSAR was an early user…
Read MoreAdditional Communication Equipment and IT
Active911 In additions to SMS and pagers, team members can elect to use the Active911 system. While the basic operation of that system is simplistic, a documentation site is available to learn more about this system here: https://active911.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/AED/overview Gmail EPCSAR will provide you with a Gmail account – this will be your Rxx@epcsar.org. As with…
Read MoreRigging the Litter for Low-Angle (Scree) Evacuation
Attaching Load Lines to the Litter A rope bridle should be attached to the litter with a double fisherman’s knot. It is wrapped around the front of the top rail of the litter so as to distribute load on the various welds. Load lines are attached to the bridle with figure 8’s on bights and…
Read MoreWinter Patient Packaging in the snow with SKED
Packaging a patient in the snow (especially on a slope) is more challenging and personnel intensive than with a litter on dirt. A few basic steps are required before you can begin to package the patient. While the rescue process and procedures are more in-depth and complex than I will cover in this section of the TM,…
Read MoreRadio Codes
Most of our radio transmissions are and should be made in “Plain English.” However, in some cases there are authorized abbreviations or radio codes used and you need to understand their meaning and be clear when using them. There are two sets of radio codes that are used, and this can cause confusion. The first…
Read MoreRigging the Litter for High-Angle Evacuation
Lowering system (high angle) The anchor, brake tube, safety Prusiks and brakeman are the same for any lowering system, scree or high angle. Two ropes are essentially always used, due to the consequences if a rope should fail. Litter The litter is attached to the Spider, which is attached to the load lines with locking…
Read MoreAppendix E – Advanced Rope Work
ANCHORS Load distributing anchors (LDA’s): LDA’s are used generally for one of two reasons. First, if no single anchor is deemed to be sufficiently strong, several anchors can be used and the load distributed between them. Second, if no anchor is available in a desirable place, multiple anchors can be joined using an LDA so…
Read MorePersonal Radios
A number of team members own their own portable and/or mobile radios. These units are very helpful on every mission and essential on many. They allow us to contact members immediately and get a small team on the road quickly in the event of a mission. Approval of the team’s Communications Committee is required before…
Read MoreThe Third Man and One on One Rescues
THE THIRD MAN In high-angle rescue situations, an additional person (or persons) is usually sent over the side on rappel. This person is referred to as the “third man” (or Fourth man, if additional rescuers are needed), although usually, this will be the first person over the side. The job of the third man is…
Read MoreAppendix F – FOG’s
EPCSAR publishes a series of field operating guides designed to be used as reminders of our normal operating procedures for various field and overhead tasks/positions. These FOGs are continually refined and updated, thus members are encouraged to regularly check them out online and print-out and carry with them the latest versions. Below are the latest versions…
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