| During the month of September, Thorndale Firefighters spent four weeks training on Ropes and Rigging Systems in the pursuit of certification from the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy. Instructor Jeff Kramer from the Chester County Emergency Services Fire Training School was requested by Captain Dan Donnachie to conduct a Basic Ropes and Rigging class, with an emphasis on low angle rescues. The Thorndale Fire Company responds to a few low angle technical rescue incidents a year, typically resulting from automobile accidents over the various embankments in Caln Township, especially the Route 30 Bypass. At these incidents, firefighters must safely move the injured motorists up the embankment to an awaiting ambulance. The use of basic technical rescue rope skills effectively completes the job in many of the situations.
During the first week of the class, Instructor Kramer reviewed the basic knots used for rope rescue as well as the applications to use the different knots in. Firefighters were required to have proficient knowledge of each knot prior to moving on to the next step. Following the knot tying exercise, Instructor Kevin Corcoran reviewed stokes basket lashing, which is the process of securing a patient in a stokes basket so that they do not fall out during the extrication. The patient was secured to the stokes basket with a modified seat harness and a modified chest harness. Webbing was laced across the top of the basket to keep the arms and legs in the basket. Firefighters teamed up in small groups to practice the skill prior to finishing for the evening.
The second week of class began with Instructor Kramer discussing what to use as an anchor point and how to establish this anchor. Establishing an anchor may be difficult depending on the location of the incident; however any large tree, solid object, or apparatus can be used. Rescue 38 has a movable anchor point that can be located on any of the four sides of the apparatus, which can be used if this unit is parked close to the incident scene. Following the anchor point discussion, Instructor Kramer, Instructor Steve DiLiugi, and Instructor Mark Koenig explained the different haul and lower system used. The firefighters broke into three groups and set up several different systems that could be used to lower firefighters/equipment down an embankment or used to raise firefighters/patients/equipment back up the embankment.
In the third week of the class, the firefighters traveled to the front hill of the Coatesville Veterans Affairs Hospital to practice the skills of the class in a field environment. The first evolution was done in an open, relatively flat, and quite atmosphere so that everyone could see what was being done and how to complete the operation. The second exercise pushed the firefighters into a real life environment as they were faced with a steep terrain, close working quarters, apparatus noise, and natural obstacles (trees, bushes, etc.). The firefighters established an anchor point on Rescue 38, then lowered rescuers and equipment to the scene. Once the crew reached the scene, a haul system was established with a change of direction to safely raise the crew with patient back up the embankment after proper patient packaging. The night was culmination of all the skills learned during the class.
This concluded the official class, but Captain Donnachie decided more practice was needed so in the fourth week the crew traveled back to the front hill at the Coatesville VA Hospital to yet again set up the rope systems typically used for low angle rescues. Firefighter Bret Mitchell from the Coatesville VA Hospital Fire Department, who is a certified rope rescue instructor, was on hand to answer any questions and provide advice to the Thorndale Firefighters. The group broke into two crews, the one crew set up the lower system and rappelled down the embankment to the patient while the other crew set up the raise system and transferred the load. The crews switched jobs and the evolution was done again, giving all firefighters in attendance a chance to fully understand the operation.
Special thanks to Instructors Jeff Kramer, Steve Diluigi, Kevin Corcoran, and Mark Koenig for coming out to teach the class.
Also, thank you to Chief William Gulliver of the Coatesville VA Fire Department for allowing us to train at the VA Hospital and for allowing your crews to participate with us.
Photos by Fire Police Lieutenant Ron Miller. |
