FUNDAMENTALS ON ROPE RESCUE TECHNICIANS TRAINING FRRTT

ROPES and KNOTS

By Scouter Michael. Ordinarily, when you want to put a rope to work, you have to tie a knot in it. And if you know only a few basic knots you can make your rope work much more efficiently. Knots are used to join two ropes together, or to shorten one rope - and to "tie up", tow, haul, hoist and support objects. Most knots are fairly simple to master - a little practice and you'll he surprised what you can do with a rope.

Rope Rescue
When victims are located above or below in rescue situation, the most efficient and sometimes the only means of reaching and getting them to safer grounds is by the use of ropes, knots and rope system.

Most rescues takes place under severe environmental conditions, thus, rope rescue technicians should be able to do knots under stress, in the dark, when cold, using only one hand and with diminished physical activity.

The inability to do knots may be a sign of a lack of desire to develop the basic skills to be a safe team member.

CLASSIFICATIONS OF ROPE IN THE FIRE SERVICE:

Life Safety Rope
a rope construction utilizing a poly-ester cover for the best abrasion resistance and durability braided over a nylon core.
Kernmantle also means core and sheath.

The core (kern) is made up of continuous fibers, usually nylon, that runs the entire length of the rope.

The core is protected by a sheath (mantle) made of tightly woven nylon or other synthetic fiber that provides the remainder of the ropes strength.

2 types of Life Safety Rope:

Dynamic (high stretch) - elasticity is 60% of its length without breaking - for long falls such as rock climbing to reduce the shock of impact on both the climber and the anchor system - disadvantage is raising or lowering heavy loads

Static (low stretch)

- elasticity is 20% of its length without breaking
suitable for raising and lowering heavy loads Mostly used in rappelling and in other instance where only very short falls are a possibility.

2.Utility Rope - used in any instance, excluding life safety applications, where the use of rope is required.

MOST COMMON TYPES OF ROPE CONSTRUCTION:

Laid Rope composed of three strands twisted together to form the final rope. Twisted ropes are susceptible to abrasion and other types of physical damage.

Kernmantle Rope jacketed type. Composed of braided covering or sheath (mantle) over the load-bearing strands (kern).

Rope Strength and Rating

Importance of Knot tying Knot tying is very important and useful in accomplishing different rescue operations such as rope rescue, water rescue and other emergencies. The ability to tie a good knot will result to a successful rescue operation. Knots are the link for many of the elements in the high-angle, low angle and belowgrade system.

 The incorrect tying and improper application of a knot could result in serious injury or death on the part of the rescuer and the victim.

Knots are used in tying ropes and webbing together, anchoring, improvisation, safety and others.

 Most rescues takes place under severe environmental conditions, thus, rope rescue technicians should be able to do knots..

under stress / pressure in the dark when cold using only one hand and with diminished physical activity

The inability to do knots may be a sign of a lack of desire to develop the basic skills to be a safe team member.

CLASSIFICATIONS OF A KNOT:
Knot - is a rope intertwined with itself - a fixed, non-moveable place on a piece of cordage that is achieved through turns, bends and tie-offs.
Bend - is the intertwining of two ends of rope - a tie that unties to rope ends Hitch - is a knot that is dependent on a hoist object - a group of ties that wrap or attached to other objects or ropes. Loop - a turn of the ropes that crosses itself.

ELEMENTS OF A KNOT: Bight formed by simply bending the rope back on itself while keeping the sides parallel Loop made by crossing the side of a bight over the standing part Round turn consists of further bending of one side of a loop

Parts of a rope (when used in making knots)

Running end

Working end
Standing part

COMMON KINDS OF KNOTS

Overhand / Single hitch used as stopper knot

Overhand on a bight / Loop Knot used to form a single loop

Square knot / Reef knot most common method in connecting two ropes of the same diameter. However, when diameters of the two ropes are not the same, it is possible for the knot to get loosened by sliding from each other

Figure 8 this is the base knot for all Figure 8 on a bightof knots. the preferred knot when Figure 8 family this is a secured loop is needed particularly at the end of a rope. Although not thoroughly correct, many out in the field use the term Figure 8 loop. This kind has lower strength loss than the bowline but harder to untie.

Figure 8 Follow through formed by tying a loose Figure 8 in the end of the rope and then threading the end of the second rope through the loosely tied Figure 8 in the fist rope. In-line Figure 8 - same purpose as butterfly knot

Half hitch the base hitch for almost all hitches. Clove hitch has a history of being used as a carabiner in climbing applications, but it is most often used in rescue work for securing the mid-point of a guying system for angle directional.

Cow hitch / Girth hitch this knot is also used to Prusik /rope or webbing toan anchor point or other attach Double cow hitch the most used hitch in rescue work.used to connect a rope attachment object. Also Also used in personal to an object pointsas stretcher and ladder. such for ascending and in system uses such as tandem prusik belays and haul prusik for mechanical advantage.

Bowline most versatile knot in rope rescue. It is stronger under tension and susceptible to selfuntying so it must be backed up with barrel knot. Double Bowline Triple Bowline Used to form a single loop that will not constrict to object it is placed around.

Bowline with a bight a great mid-line loop that flows better in the direction of pull than butterfly knot.

Munter / Italian maybe used as a single person belay.

Round turn, two half hitch used to tie a rope to an object at its end or in its middle

QUALITIES OF A GOOD KNOT:

It can easily be tied and untied even after loading
Easy to determine if tied correctly Once tied, it remains tied

Minimal effect on rope strength

W E B BING
It is preferable to rope because of the following reasons: In constructing a harness, it lies flat against the body and provides better support. An excellent material to use for slings for it loses very little strength when bent around a carabiner. It is relatively inexpensive, lightweight, easy to tie and can be cut to short lengths for many uses.

2 Basic Forms:
Flat Webbing it is stiffer and difficult to tie into knots Tubular Webbing more supple and easier to tie

2 types:

1. Edge-stitched 2. Spiral weaved