Learning the rescue ropes

kriner@sunmulti.com

Firefighters could be seen descending down ropes, lowering rescue baskets from a

four-story tower and working the ground ropes system on Tuesday.

All of this practice and hands on training are for the rope

rescue portion of the Georgia Search and Rescue (GSAR) training class. The

ropes training is just a fraction of the 400 hours required to join the GSAR

Taskforce 4.

 

Each team member will have completed the extensive training

of search and rescue in a total of six disciplines by the end of the six-month

course. The team is trained in confined space, technical rope rescue, trench

rescue, structural collapse, ground search and rescue and hazardous materials.

 

The multi-jurisdictional force consists of nearly 150

firefighters from various agencies in the Middle Georgia area, including

several from Warner Robins, Perry and Houston County fire departments.

Formed in 2003, the task force 4 team has had multiple

deployments including areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, a parking deck

collapse in Atlanta and numerous missing persons searches.

The scenario

A water tower worker has a heart attack while on the job at

the top of the tower; he is unable to descend himself to the ground. This is

where the GSAR team steps in.

Their mission is to lower the worker to the ground safely by

a rope system.

This is an example of a scenario used by the GSAR team

during their training.

“Ropes and specialized rope rescue equipment are invaluable

tools for accessing victims in difficult and unusual situations,” GSAR

instructor Darryl Spradley said.

All about building

teamwork

For weeks, Ned Dixon, a veteran GSAR member and instructor,

said firefighters have worked on techniques such as setting up the rope system,

climbing, rappelling and load moving ropes.

Dixon said every member of the team must learn every portion

of a rescue technique and be proficient.

Spradley noted that some firefighters have already trained

in some of these areas, but he explained the importance of all the team members

working together as a task force to build team cohesion.

See more photos from the GSAR training course on the Houston

Home Journal Facebook Page, including photos of our managing editor, Krystal Riner, and staff writer, Jessica Clark, who even got a chance to participate in the course!  * Note: you are not required to have a Facebook account in order to view the photos.

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