Title: SUBJECT:
Author: Addison Fire Department
Last saved by: DC

M.A.B.A.S Division XII
Policies and Procedures

Date Approved: | 05/29/97 | Part: | Technical Rescue
Date Revised: | 03/28/02 | Number: | 4.1
Replaces: | 05/29/97 | Page: | of
Source(s):  MABAS Division XII

Subject:	Rope Rescue

PURPOSE:	To provide guidelines for vertical rope rescue.	

SCOPE:	These guidelines are designed to provide guidance for the M.A.B.A.S. Division #12 Technical Rescue team and other Fire Department personnel during all phases of Rope rescue operations.

Forms:	

1.	Definition

Any rescue which requires the victim to be accessed or removed by rope,
constitutes a vertical rope rescue.

2.	Classifications

For purposes of this standard and to correspond with current Office of the State Fire Marshal certification training and those established by the National Fire Protection Association #1670, the following operational levels are hereby established:

1. OSFM Technical Rescue Awareness	
2. OSFM Vertical I
3. OSFM Vertical II (or equivalent as identified in Section 1-B) 

3.	Standard Operating  Guidelines

3.1. 	The stricken agency shall assume command and control of any incident involving rope rescue within the Department’s boundaries.

3.2. 	Any potential vertical / rope rescue incident in which a person is trapped, 
injured, experiencing a medical emergency, or is deceased shall require the response of the Department’s technical rescue team or the closest properly trained team.

3.3.	Only personnel who are trained, authorized, and possess the specialized rescue equipment needed to perform the rescue, shall be assigned to Entry or Technical Rescue Branch/Sector. 

3.4. 	Vertical / Rope rescue requires technical training and proper equipment.  	     All trained personnel performing the rescue shall be outfitted with 	  	     proper equipment prior to attempting any rescue.

3.5 	If a potential for a hazardous atmosphere exists, requiring monitoring,
Incident Command or Technical Rescue Branch/ Sector will assign an Air Quality Sector.  Air Quality Sector will follow OSHA guidelines.
	     
3.6. 	If the readings of an Oxygen enriched, flammable and / or toxic atmosphere exists, all entry teams shall be immediately removed from 	   
           the space, until ventilation reverses the condition.

3.7. 	When activities are judged to be unsafe and to involve an imminent hazard, a technical rescue team member and/or safety officer shall have the authority to alter, suspend or terminate those activities. The safety officer shall immediately inform the incident commander and rescue branch/sector of any action taken to correct the imminent hazards at an emergency scene.

At an emergency incident, where a technical rescue team member or safety officer identifies unsafe conditions, operations or hazards that do not present an imminent danger, the safety officer shall take appropriate action through the incident commander and/or rescue branch/sector officer to mitigate or eliminate the unsafe condition, operation or hazard.
	
3.8	A rope rescue / recovery requires the establishment of   the following five (5) Sectors/ Officers:

3.8.1. 	Technical Rescue Sector/ Officer  (Team Leader) 
Responsible for coordination of the actual rescue operation and the sectors associated with all activity in the “rescue area.”  Reports directly to Operations (Ops).  In the absence of an Operations Sectors he / she reports directly to Incident Command (IC).

3.8.2.	Site Control (3 ff)
Responsible for establishing control zones, fire suppression, 	  	               logistics of incoming resources, placement of resource apparatus and lighting systems.  Reports directly to Technical Rescue Branch/Sector.

	3.8.3. 	Equipment / Rigging Sector (1 ff / 1 tr)
Responsible for the establishment of an equipment sector site, and the physical stockpile of equipment necessary to perform the rescue.  Rigging may become a separate sector responsible 		               for installation of the protective system.  Reports directly to 		               Technical Rescue Branch/Sector.
		
3.8.4 	Technical Rescue Safety Officer 
Responsible for observing and checking all technical aspects of  the rescue.  Works directly with the Fire Department’s Safety Officer.  Reports to IC, Safety and Technical Rescue Branch/ Sector.

Initially limited technical rescue personnel may require combining one or more sectors.  The use of fire suppression personnel is an integral part of successfully performing a rescue.  Conversely, as the incident progresses and the protective system grows more complex, expansion of the above sectors is required to efficiently mitigate the incident.