This section will provide suggestions for skills training conducted alone or with partners without a formal instructor. While it is recommended that formal instruction with an experienced provider of climbing, rescue, and medical education be conducted it is understood that this is not always feasible. The information and experiences prompted by this section is also valuable in preparation for a more formal instructional setting.
It is important to understand that while practicing any given skill is valuable the practice only becomes training if the results are being measured and progress recorded. This section will provide a format for setting up skills testing stations that can be conducted alone or with small groups at locations easily accessible for the learner in order to provide measurable training data.
Rope rescue is the concept of using the rope and other equipment to facilitate movement throughout the climbing environment. Rope rescue is vast in its scope and is worthy of lifetime study. This section will provide the fundementals.
The fundamentals of rope rescue can be organized using the pneumonic TRAPD.
T: Transitions
R: Raising
A: Ascending
P: Prevention
D: Decending
Rappelling is descending on a fixed rope. Should a rescuer need to access a patient who is below them and a trail to walk off is unavailable rappelling is the most likely option. The content below will discuss the fundamentals of rappelling and provide a skills scenario that can be practiced to self-assess competency.
Rappelling self-assessment
1. Prepare for the activity by building an anchor in a place that is easily accessible, reproducible and