Preparing the casualty for lowering
If the casualty is unconscious or unable to assist , it may be necessary to remove their spurs before beginning to lower them . If their spurs are not removed , they may become embedded in the trunk during descent . This could cause the casualty to invert , or ( worst case ) to become entangled with branches and trapped or injured .
With the spurs unbuckled , it is easy to use the spur shank ( the vertical metal component ) as a lever to get each spur out of the timber and off the casualty ’ s boot .
Hold the top of the shank or the top pad and rotate the spur forward – the casualty ’ s foot will eventually be levered off the spur and the spur will pop free of the timber .
It is important to ensure that the casualty has been securely connected to the main line , or to another choking attachment point , before removing their spurs , or they will slip down the trunk .
Edge protection for pole top rescue
Some rescue teams in the United States have explored the possibility of using edge protection and artificial rope channels to allow rescue lines to be run directly over the top of the pole .
Two possibilities for creating these artificial rope channels and fixing them into the top of the pole to secure the plastic edge protection are shown in the image on the right .
One method uses a rounded rectangular frame welded to two long nails , which can be driven in through the edge protection to secure it in place and guide the rope .
The other uses a similar frame but is fixed into place with self-tapping wood hex-head wood screws .
At time of print , no commercially produced rope channels were available .
This technique requires no ‘ real estate ’ above the casualty ’ s attachment and could be used to lift the casualty out of their spurs .
The technique was developed by rescue professionals in the US . It has not been used or tested by the authors .
It is included in the manual as an option for VR instructors and program managers who find that their rescue operators encounter difficulties during simulated pole-top rescues .
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