scubadude1188
ArboristSite Lurker
What would be the rescue procedure for someone hurt on spikes in a tree?
Thanks,
Scubadude
Thanks,
Scubadude
Rescue on Spikes
- Thread starter scubadude1188
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Bermie
Addicted to ArboristSite
Pretty much the same as any other rescue with a couple of exceptions.
If they are working just off a flipline and choked safety you have to rig a pulley over their heads, to get a 'lift' or at least a higher purchase so you can relieve their weight on their spikes, get the spikes out of the tree and to have something to lower them and yourself down off.
You should also remove their spikes if they are unconscious so they don't get hung up on the way down.
I'm sure you'll get a few more variations on this theme!
Makes you think about how you attach yourself when working a pole on spikes to facilitate the possibility of a rescue!
If they are working just off a flipline and choked safety you have to rig a pulley over their heads, to get a 'lift' or at least a higher purchase so you can relieve their weight on their spikes, get the spikes out of the tree and to have something to lower them and yourself down off.
You should also remove their spikes if they are unconscious so they don't get hung up on the way down.
I'm sure you'll get a few more variations on this theme!
Makes you think about how you attach yourself when working a pole on spikes to facilitate the possibility of a rescue!
To try to get above someone who in injured in spikes is going to be very differcult for a number of reasons. Its unlikely to be achievable in good time with only one other person.
First the rescuer has to get passed them to get above them to set up a lowering point.
Second, with the nature of how accidents can occur on spikes theres a good chance the person is very jammed up with the flipline and possible ending up with their legs at odd angles.
Third as mentioned by Bermie, hes in spikes and the rescuer is in all likelyhood to be in spikes as well, something likely to cause further injury to victim or hurt rescuers some time in the rescue and lowering process. These may need to be removed at some point to complete the rescue safely.
Even with a line above, releasing the pressure of the flipline could be very differcult unless you have another person available with a winch, GRCS, vehcile or enough pull power to take the gravity weight off climber. And its not like you can just cut your average flipline.
If its not possible to release the flipline then you may have to get a strop around the victim and cut him free of his harness to get him down, I would think cutting one of the side "D"s free would be easiest.
All in all its a rescue that offers alot of challenges and I have spent a little time thinking about without definative answers. All trees, environments and falls and injuries are different.
Its one of those cases where a very good knife or very good use of a silky MAY be needed.
First the rescuer has to get passed them to get above them to set up a lowering point.
Second, with the nature of how accidents can occur on spikes theres a good chance the person is very jammed up with the flipline and possible ending up with their legs at odd angles.
Third as mentioned by Bermie, hes in spikes and the rescuer is in all likelyhood to be in spikes as well, something likely to cause further injury to victim or hurt rescuers some time in the rescue and lowering process. These may need to be removed at some point to complete the rescue safely.
Even with a line above, releasing the pressure of the flipline could be very differcult unless you have another person available with a winch, GRCS, vehcile or enough pull power to take the gravity weight off climber. And its not like you can just cut your average flipline.
If its not possible to release the flipline then you may have to get a strop around the victim and cut him free of his harness to get him down, I would think cutting one of the side "D"s free would be easiest.
All in all its a rescue that offers alot of challenges and I have spent a little time thinking about without definative answers. All trees, environments and falls and injuries are different.
Its one of those cases where a very good knife or very good use of a silky MAY be needed.
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Bermie
Addicted to ArboristSite
Some good points there...
I've only done a pole top spike rescue in training and it WAS difficult and that was with a 'co-operative' live 'victim'. As you said, getting above to set the strop and pulley was interesting. Cutting the wirecore flipline was part of the deal, and a point was made to always have somewhere in your flipline setup that could be cut with a knife.
I've only done a pole top spike rescue in training and it WAS difficult and that was with a 'co-operative' live 'victim'. As you said, getting above to set the strop and pulley was interesting. Cutting the wirecore flipline was part of the deal, and a point was made to always have somewhere in your flipline setup that could be cut with a knife.
brisawyer
ArboristSite Operative
All of the above sound good.We discussed this @ work a while back. First choice would be a ladder/bucket truck. If no truck acess set an anchor raise a rescuer with a mechanichal advantage. Clip pt into your systerm have ground crew haul on your line to unload his or use a pickoff strap. Cut/remove any of pt's gear that interferes,lower.
I can't speak for treework, but as a retired lineman [35 years power co.] this is something we practiced once a year. Our person to be rescued was 99% sure to be unconscious, more than likely his heart was stopped from an electrical contact. You had 4 minutes before brain damage started from lack of blood to the brain. I used to argue at the training sessions to call for help FIRST, before attemping rescue. This was finally added before I retired. All our trucks had 2 ways, you need to get more help on the scene, sometimes first responders are only minutes away. Our climber was to have a 1/2" handline up there, if not you had to take it up with you. One & a half wraps around the crossarm [or something as strong] under the victims armpits, 3 half hitches in the front, get whatever slack you could out & unhook or cut his saftey strap. You lowered him yourself. Our 'victim' was essentially dead, unless you could get him down for cpr. You didn't worry about his hooks, etc. In the course of all this, you didn't want to become a victim yourself, but time was important. In my 35 years, I thank God I never had to do it 'for real', nor have it done on me.
squad143
Tree Guy
What a retard company. Any training evolution should be done with a safety "in case" something goes wrong.
Rftreeman
Addicted to ArboristSite
then it would be real training, it's obvious the mistake that the guy made, he didn't tie in to the lowering device but I'll bet he will next time.
treeslayer
Addicted to ArboristSite
and he was allowed to learn this the hard way? where was the training supervisor?
I'd fire whoever watched him do it wrong. Inexcusable.
Rftreeman
Addicted to ArboristSite
they most likely weren't expecting him to fall also, when we did training like this unless the trainee was making a mistake that would hurt them we didn't say anything until they killed the dummy, you learn by your mistakes.......next time he'll get it right.......
and he was allowed to learn this the hard way? where was the training supervisor?
I'd fire whoever watched him do it wrong. Inexcusable.
treeslayer
Addicted to ArboristSite
I'm just not seeing your perspective. This guy could have been KILLED.
falling is not allowed.
and you're right about one thing, he learned something that day, for sure.
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Rftreeman
Addicted to ArboristSite
don't feel bad, you're not the only one who doesn't..........
Rftreeman
Addicted to ArboristSite
on the ground yelling "you better get that rope"............
where was the training supervisor?
treeslayer
Addicted to ArboristSite
Ok, I'll vote for that, but what if the rescuer is indeed alone? He goes up with a false crotch and a rope which he has tied off to the base of the pole?
Dave, if this were a 2 man crew, the victim [dummy] should have had a 1/2 handline up there with him. If not, the rescuer would have to take it. If it's a roller handline, the rescuer has to seperate it, get 1 1/2 turns around the crossarm [or if there's no arm, something that will hold the weight of the victim] The lose end goes under the victims armpits, 3 half hitches in the front & cut his belt. The rescuer controls the victims decent just with the friction of the rope around the crossarm. It works, we used to do it. I watched the video about 6 times, what I saw - There's a fall protection device on the poletop, why it wasn't hooked to the climber, I don't know. I feel the climber was too high for what he had to do, his safety strap was out too far, making his a** stick out too far too. A bad position to have your hooks, as they're at an angle to the pole, rather than more up/down. When the dummy fell, the rescuer lunged forward [to try what? catch the dummy?] The result of the forward lunge, was his hook [already at a bad angle] cutout of the pole, and gravity took over.
Rftreeman
Addicted to ArboristSite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-0V_mumflM
I can clearly see the mistake made here but I would have never thought it would have pulled the guy down..........he had hold of the wrong side of the rope, he was suppose to hold the other end that was wrapped around the pole, look carefully and you'll see......at first I thought he was suppose to be hooked to the pulley system but after watching a few other videos I changed my opinion on the matter....
I can clearly see the mistake made here but I would have never thought it would have pulled the guy down..........he had hold of the wrong side of the rope, he was suppose to hold the other end that was wrapped around the pole, look carefully and you'll see......at first I thought he was suppose to be hooked to the pulley system but after watching a few other videos I changed my opinion on the matter....
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ohio03trdtaco
ArboristSite Lurker
You can see the rope slipping threw his hands then he gets a grip. After he gets a hold of the rope again it sucks him inward to the pole. And once you get strait with the pole your are going down. The the bad thing is he had to slid down that pole, his strap would just keep him sucked in to it. Also didn't help he had bad body position to begin with.
