Wilderness Rope / Rescue

[wilderness]

i will be taking a course at the O.F.C in August of this year on wilderness rope rescue, now has anyone taking this class and do you have any suggestions on what i might start to learn before i attend......

[iamvff]

At the OFC in Manitoba, The prerequisite for Rope rescue is EMR, and rescue practices. I was really wanting to take the rope rescue here in April, but the EMR will definately stand in my way. Their logic was, what good is it to train you to go down an embankment or whatever to a victim and then you have no idea how to deal with the victim. Other than this info, I would definately suggest that you get to know all of your knots, and different rope and pulley systems. Have fun, I envy you on this course. We got to do some repelling in Brandon at the USAR course in Nov/04. It was a blast. I am hoping to take my EMR in the fall, BIG comittment though, 6 months, every second weekend both Sat & Sun.

Be safe, have fun,
iamvff

[wilderness]

They had no stipulations on pre course material.... if you wanted the course you applied... if you were lucky enought to get it and i was... i can see there point but in the same sense are paramedics trainined to do this... i don,t think they are in our area, that being said if we are on scene and are required we can help them, just like any other time that they have required us to help with a lift.........

[iamvff]

It seems as though the fire service is going more towards firefighter and paramedics being one and the same. I only say that because the more courses I look at the more they are wanting you to have EMR. Maybe the powers that be are thinking that...why have two people each doing a job, when you can have one person know two jobs? I am not saying it's right or wrong, but it just appears like that. As a volunteer who wants to do a little more advanced training than usual, I am finding it very difficult to take the courses I am intersested in, with out having my EMR.

Be safe,
iamvff

[RESQTEK]

Part of the reason for this requirement is NFPA 1006 Standard for Rescue Technician Professional Qualifications. This standard sets forth the qualifications to be a rescue technician in any discipline.(rope rescue, surface water rescue, vehicle and machinery rescue, confined space rescue, structural collapse rescue, trench rescue, subterranean rescue, dive rescue, and wilderness rescue)

Section 4.2 outlines the entrance requirements needed before beginning training or engaging in rescue incidents. Emergency medical care capabilities are mentioned there and explained further in the appendix. It states in the appendix that " Rescue technicians should be trained at minimum to the level of emergency medical technician-basic as described in the National Standard Curriculum issued by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), National Highway Transportation Safety Authority." The appendix, however, is not part of the standard so the schools here in Canada seem to have set the EMR as the minimum level instead of EMT.

The schools offering this training need you to have this medical training in order to issue you a certificate for the 1006 standard. This is just how fire colleges work. Everything comes down to NFPA certification and that is why people go to them. There is an assumption of accountability if a school grants NFPA certification. In reality, this is no guaranty of quality as the NFPA standards are a broad minimum standard.

If you want to take a rope rescue course, look outside of the fire colleges and you will not need this medical training. The best rope rescue training I took was not with the fire college.

[wilderness]

So what i want to know is it worth attending? its costing enough its been put on by a group not involved with the OFC just using the grounds by the sound of things..... We have first responder training but they never asked for it......

[FFWannabe]

Hey wilderness... I'm signing up for one here in Ottawa within the next couple of months, we can compare notes... it's not cheap, but for me, I'll take any knowledge I can get! :)

Sue :)

[DFCSmash]

Yep, RESQTEK, it's not about training people, it's about empire building. Not many rope rescue trained Paramedics in rural Manitoba. Not many firefighters either, because of prerequisites. So once again it comes down to the old question of if you are lying there hurt, would you like someone capable of a) getting the help down to you. b) getting you up to the help c) calling in rope rescue trained paramedics that are 5 hours away?

Political bullsh**.

I have said here before, I have NO interest in EMT/EMR operations. I have nothing but respect for those who want to do it, I'm just not one of them. We work with our local ambulance people on a regular basis as a team. We have 5 fully trained EMT?EMRs on our department, that work ambulance as well. Great. No issues with it. But me taking the courses would be pointless because I wouldn't use them enough to be comfortable with the procedures required.

But a course in rescue that teaches the correct way of loading and tying apatient, as well as lifting them. I'm in. Some how I think that most people who were injured and required removal from their situation wouldn't have a problem with it as long as the people doing it were trained and equipped.

Just my .02 :cool:

[iamvff]

I have to agree with what you say....but...what does a guy do when you have a training path you want to follow and they throw EMR in front of every entrance! My view is suck it up and take EMR. I have no desire to be on ambulance so therefore I have to agree with you that it is pointless to take it if your not going to keep it up. But it's on the resume once you have it! I think they are going to run out of volunteers if they keep this up, because there seems to be only a select few who can take that amount of time off of work, or away from home to do the training!

Be safe
iamvff

[DFCSmash]

Yes, or you can question those in the ivory tower who have a real tendency to forget what their mandate truly is, why the organization was founded in the first place and what funds the majority of their operation.

If they don't require you to take EMR?EMS then they can't justify why they are so deeply in to it.

Just a note, they don't like people who question their grand scheme. They love those than kiss their ...

[iamvff]

Normally I am really a questioning the system type of guy....but I have some pretty specific goals right now, and a short time to get them accomplished, so I think the A$$ kissing part is more in line at this point.:rolleyes:

be safe
iamvff

[DFCSmash]

Be careful what you wish for:rolleyes: . Are you starting to understand earlier PM

[wilderness]

still no answer, is the course worth taking or not????????

[iamvff]

Originally posted by wilderness
still no answer, is the course worth taking or not????????

Oh sorry...were you talking to us?:D :D

If your interested, it would be a good course to take. My philo...philoficy...filos....logic is that there is always something to learn from any course you take. Go ahead...once you take it...no one can take it away!

Be safe
iamvff

[Techy5]

Who is hosting the course for the OFC?

[wilderness]

i believe its MHSA........