»Rope and Mountain Rescue

Mountain rescue refers to search and rescue activities that occur in a mountainous environment, although the term is sometimes also used to apply to search and rescue in other wilderness environments. The difficult and remote nature of the terrain in which mountain rescue often occurs has resulted in the development of a number of specific pieces of equipment and techniques. Helicopters are often used to quickly extract casualties, and search dogs may be used to locate them. Mountain recue encompasses techniques form:

This course will go over a combinations of theory and application of different mechanisms of those techniques.

Training Topics

• Mountain rescue basics
• Bottom up versus top down rescue techniques
• Introduction to pulley systems
• Physics for mountain rescue
• Use of the AZTEK kit in mountain environs
• Solo rescuer pick off
• Semi-solo rescuer pick offs using tools from harness
• Mid face litter scoops
• Lead climbing (optional) using bight carry technique for extreme bottom up rescues
• Belays, self belays, conditional belays and conditional self belays
• Improvisation and a 'minimalist' approach to mountain rescue
• Patient assessment & packaging in mountain environment
• Rappelling techniques with improvisation in mind
• Sound anchoring principles with sketchy rock climbing protection
• Slack backups vs tensioned backties
• Drilled pitons in various rock types
• Active and passive rock climbing protection placement
• Split coil carries; low angle carries
• Wood frame artificial high directionals
• stretchers from climbing rope only
• Caterpillar passes and role rotation during litter carries

Required Equipment

• *Please call ATACSOL with any questions
• Any Rappelling harness that meets ANSI/OSHA Class II harness standards or better.
• Gloves( Preferably Rope Gloves)
• Rappelling Decender device (Preferably rescuer figure 8)
• Helmet(tactical and/or meets CE EN 12492: meets the requirements of the EN 397 and EN 12492 standards for protection against impact. Meets the optional requirements of the EN 397 standard for use in low temperatures.
• UIAA, ANSI Z89.1-2009 Type I Class C,
• Locking Carabiner(Meets UL certified to current NFPA standards)
• Prusik Cords, Pursels and/or Mech asenders
• AZTEK Kit: which will include: (per attendee)
• 1 ea. RTR/Rock Exotica AZTEK Omni® pulleys (orange)
• 1 ea. RTR/Rock Exotica AZTEK Omni® pulleys (blue)
• 1 ea. RTR/Rock Exotica AZTEK Omni® becket rope cover
• 1 ea. RTR/Rock Exotica AZTEK Omni® quick pin (advise carrying a spare)
• 1 ea. 50 ft. of 8mm Sterling AZTEK accessory cord with sewn eye on one end
• 1 ea. 6mm Sterling AZTEK sewn shock absorber
• 1 ea. 6mm Sterling AZTEK accessory cord ratchet (orange)
• 1 ea. 6mm Sterling AZTEK accessory cord ratchet (blue)
• 1 aluminum auto-locking (type 3 or 4) carabiner
• 1 ea. Mallion Rapide 7mm short steel screw link
• 1 ea. AZTEK double zipper fanny pack (Recommend CMC Pro Series AZTEK bag)
• Comfortable Clothes and Closed toe Shoes

Recommended Equipment

• Portable Technical Field/ Riggers Guide
• Tactical Gear and/or Weapons
• Sunscreen