According to the Emery County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page they hosted rope rescue training for three days at three different locations. Members of the Utah National Guard 85th WMD Civil Support Team participated for the fourth year in a row. Also training were rope team members from ECSO Search and Rescue, XTO Energy and PacifiCorp Huntington Power Plant. Carbon County Emergency Management also participated. Training was coordinated by Captain Kyle Ekker, with Ken Eley of Black Dragon Rescue Systems instructing.
Training on day one was held at Bowie Resources Central Warehouse west of Orangeville. Teams rescued an injured victim trapped in a vertical cage stairwell on the outside of a two-story building. The inside of Central Warehouse was staged to simulate a building collapse after an earthquake. Teams rescued trapped victims in total darkness (helmet headlamps only) from the confined spaces using rope techniques for victim extrication, patient packaging and lowering victims from a two-story opening on the side of the building. The initial entry team from the military was equipped with atmosphere monitors and hazardous materials testing strips for responder safety.
Day two training was held at PacifiCorp Huntington Power Plant. After a welcome by Plant Manager Darrell Cunningham and a safety briefing by Safety Administrator David Verdi, participants focused on rope rescue techniques and anchoring in an industrial setting. Team members practiced rappelling from a deck nine stories high. Rescue of an unconscious patient suspended on a rope from the four story turbine deck was also practiced using a spec pack.
Day three training was held at Cow Canyon on the San Rafael Desert. Participants were divided into four working teams – top team, low angle team, vertical team and recon team. For the rescue scenario, a live victim was placed several hundred feet down a steep slope with cliffs. The victim was administered an IV by medical personnel and packaged in a basket for extraction. Teams worked simultaneously setting up their rescue systems and equipment for a successful victim rescue. Communications were handled by Bret Mills, Emery County Communications Specialist, and Sinbad Desert Amateur Radio Club.
To see pictures of the three day Ropes Rescue Training visit Emery County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
FEATURE PHOTO COURTESY EMERY COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE