RESCUES
Verbal Rescue
If someone is in need of a rescue for emotional reasons or can be talked through the challenge, the steps to follow are:
Talk to the person in efforts to calm them down or encourage them to complete challenge. If unsuccessful,
Go to the person (taking a rescue bag with you) to continue talking and give them physical assistance to continue on the element.
If unsuccessful, perform a rescue as outlined below…
TEC Course
In the event you are at the point where someone needs to be lowered to the ground, follow the steps below:
Stop all activity on the element.
Top facilitator communicates with the following 3 people:
Participant – “Stay calm. I’m coming to help.”
Ground Facilitator – “I need someone to assist at TEC ground for a lower.”
Other Participants on TEC – “Stay calm. Stay on the platforms. Don’t touch anything.”
Clip central steel carabiner (i.e., top of 4-to-1) to participant’s belay cable. Clip etrier, cutaway tool, and rescue bag to your harness. Note: If possible, perform this step from the platform.
If necessary, move your claws to the participant’s life cable, behind the 4-to-1.
Walk out to the participant, reassuring them and explaining what is about to happen.
Decide where it is best to drop the rescue bag, based on orientation of the 4-to-1 and layout of the foot cables. Ensure you have all equipment out of the bag.
Yell “Rope” and WAIT for a response from designated ground facilitator. Then drop the rescue bag to the ground (designated ground facilitator will receive bag and prep for TBD belay).
Clip the participant end of the 4-to-1 to the participant’s belay loop.
The top facilitator will call out “On Belay?” to the designated ground facilitator who responds “Belay is On” (once 0-1-75 for TBD belay is observed).
After hearing “Belay is On”, squeeze check the participant’s 4-to-1 connection.
Disconnect one claw and secure it to the claw remaining on the life cable.
Remove the participant’s second claw as follows:
If they can stand up (either using the foot cables or the rescue etrier), have them stand on the count of three and disconnect the second claw as they stand.
If they are not able to stand, top facilitator performs a raise assist while ground facilitator takes out slack.
Secure the second claw to the participant.
Call out “Ready to Lower?” to the ground facilitator, who replies “Lowering.” As they are lowered, top facilitator assists the participant down through any parts of the element that could cause harm or entanglement.
After the Lower:
The ground facilitator will care for the participant.
The top facilitator will return their attention to the group AND pack up the bag to prep it for next use.
Depending on the severity of the incident, either stop use of the element and get all participants down (using the closest traditional exit point), or continue with the group if the rescued participant is ok.
Following the event, fill out an Incident Report, getting as many perspectives as possible.
Zip Line
In the event of a jammed or dislodged trolley on the zip cable, follow the steps below:
*TZ note: to maintain constant and clear communication, all facilitators should have radios*
Top facilitator communicates with the following 4 people:
Participant stuck on the line – “Stay calm. We’re coming to help”.
Ladder team - “Participant is stuck on the line. Don’t move the ladder under line ___”.
Ground Facilitator – “I need assistance on the top of the Zipline”.
Other Participants on top of tower – “Stay calm. Don’t move. Don’t touch anything”
Grab the rescue bag and get ready to go out on the cable to rescue the participant:
Attach the etrier, Cutting tool, and extra trolley to your harness.
Place the rope bag in the center of the platform and wrap the rope around the pole. Connect the anchoring line (NOT life rated) to the back or side loop of your harness.
Attach the rescue trolley to the waist loop of your harness, then to the participant’s zip cable. Attach the backup carabiner at the end of the rescue trolley lanyard to the zip cable, behind the rescue trolley.
Keep a radio on you.
Once your ground facilitator arrives to the top platform, they will:
Secure the anchoring rope using a Butt Belay on the platform.
Visually check the rescue facilitator’s trolley, claws, and belay rope connection.
Top Facilitator asks “On Belay?” After belaying facilitator’s response of “Belay is On”, transfer your crab claws to zip cable and the second facilitator will belay you out to the participant on the line.
Upon reaching the participant on the line, reassure them that things are ok and talk them through the steps that are about to occur.
Visually and verbally clear the zipline before proceding.
If the zip trolley is no longer functional:
Connect a carabiner from your rescue set to the participant end of the replacement zip trolley (to extend the lanyard). Then connect this extended trolley to the participant and zip cable, in front of the dysfunctional zip trolley.
Connect the etrier to the cable, ensuring it is placed such that it won’t slide down the zip cable after the participant.
Instruct the participant to stick their heel through the etrier, grab up high, and stand on the count of three. Unclip the dysfunctional trolley from the participant’s belay loop as they stand up.
When the participant reweights their system, they will zip down.
Remove the dysfunctional trolley from the cable and attach it to yourself.
If the zip trolley just needs reorienting onto the cable:
Connect the etrier to the cable, ensuring it is connected so that it won’t slide down the zip cable after the participant.
Instruct the participant to stick their heel through the etrier, grab up high, and stand on the count of three. Reorient their trolley when they stand up.
When the participant reweights their system, they will zip down.
Depending on how far down the line you are you can either get belayed back to the top platform OR wait until the zip line is clear, communicate with the ladder team, and zip down. (Note: If you zip down, ensure that you clip the rope to the zip cable so it can be pulled back up. Do not drop it.)
Dynamic Rescue (Flying Squirrel, Power Pole, Leap of Faith)
In the event of a physical emergency such as rope entanglement or equipment jamming to the point where someone needs to be lowered to the ground using rescue rope, follow the steps below:
Stop all activity on the element.
Alert the Site Director and call for at least one more staff member; you will need their assistance as ground crew. (All staff involved need to have facilitator harnesses and proper gear. More than 2 staff are ideal.)
Ground facilitator must have an anchor (participant or stationary object)
Ascend the pole/tree up to the belay cable using the appropriate cable grab or leap anchors.
Clip the bag to yourself. Remove the central carabiner (to which the rest of the rescue equipment is connected) and clip it to yourself or the lifecable above you.
Clip the top of the 4-to-1 to the life cable, in front of your zip trolley.
Yell “Rope” and WAIT for a response from designated ground facilitator. Then drop the rescue bag to the ground (designated ground facilitator will receive bag and prep for TBD belay). Note: Ensure you have all equipment out of the bag before dropping it to the ground.
Attach your zip trolley and facillitator claws to the life cable above you.
Disconnect from the cable grab.
“Zip out” (carefully controlling speed) to the pulley/SRD so that you are directly above the participant.
Connect the participant end of the 4-to-1 to yourself (waist connection).
Call out “On Belay?” to the ground facilitator. (When the facilitator is in belay position and has removed slack from the system, response from ground facilitator is “Belay is On.”) Note about the 4-to-1: don’t take too much slack out of the 4-to-1.
Call out “Removing Claws" to the ground facilitator. Ground facilitator confirms claw removal. Once you receive permission, first remove your claws, then your trolley. Note: you will have to pull your body weight up to the life cable to unclip your zip trolley.
Ensure you are not leaving any equipment you need connected to the life rated cable, then call out “Ready to lower!” (Response from ground facilitator is “Lowering.”)
Get lowered down to slightly above the facilitator — communicate with the ground where you need to be.
Orient the participant so you can reach their back loop/D-ring. Connect them to the second carabiner on the 4-to-1 using tech cord and an extra carabiner from your rescue kit.
Call out “Ready to Raise?” (Response from ground facilitator is “Raising.”) The ground facilitator will raise the facilitator and participant using the two-person or group raise assist methods.
While the ground crew is raise assisting, the facilitator in the air is working to unclip the old life support rope from the participant. As soon as the old life support is removed, alert the ground crew to be lowered.
After the participant reaches the ground, ensure that they are cared for then someone will need to ascend the element to retrieve the rescue equipment and element rope.
Depending on the severity of the incident, you may need to stop the use of the element.
Following the event, fill out the Incident Report, capturing as many perspectives as possible.
Rescue Bag Set-up