firefighter 1 chapter 7 ropes and knots lesson plan … · 4!!!!...

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Fire Fighter 1 – Chapter – Lesson Plan

Title: Fire Fighter 1, Chapter 7: Ropes and Knots Lesson Purpose: This lesson is intended for the student to be able to apply basic use of ropes

and knots following the policies and procedures set forth by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).

Training Objectives: At the end of this lesson, the student will be able to achieve the following

objectives in accordance with the information received in class:

1. Compare and contrast the characteristics of life-‐safety rope and utility rope.

2. Summarize criteria for reusing life-‐safety rope.

3. Describe rope materials. 4. Describe types of rope construction.

5. Summarize basic guidelines for rope maintenance. 6. Explain procedures for storing life-‐safety rope. 7. Describe webbing and webbing construction. 8. Describe parts of a rope and considerations in tying a knot. 9. Describe knot characteristics and knot elements. 10. Describe characteristics of knots commonly used in the fire service. 11. Select commonly used rope hardware for specific applications. 12. Summarize hoisting safety considerations.

13. Discuss rescue rope and harness.

14. Inspect, clean, and store rope. (Skill Sheet 7-I-1)

15. Coil and uncoil a rope. (Skill Sheet 7-I-2)

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16. Tie the single overhand knot. (Skill Sheet 7-I-3)

17. Tie a bowline. (Skill Sheet 7-I-4) 18. Tie a clove hitch. (Skill Sheet 7-I-5) 19. Tie a clove hitch around an object. (Skill Sheet 7-I-6) 20. Tie a figure eight. (Skill Sheet 7-I-7) 21. Tie a figure-‐eight bend. (Skill Sheet 7-I-8) 22. Tie a figure eight on a bight. (Skill Sheet 7-I-9) 23. Tie a becket bend. (Skill Sheet 7-I-10) 24. Hoist an axe. (Skill Sheet 7-I-11) 25. Hoist a pike pole. (Skill Sheet 7-I-12) 26. Hoist a roof ladder. (Skill Sheet 7-I-13) 27. Hoist a dry hoseline. ( Skill Sheet 7-I-14) 28. Hoist a charged hoseline. (Skill Sheet 7-I-15) 29. Hoist a power saw. (Skill Sheet 7-I-16) Assessment: Complete an online test Standard: 70% correct Instructional Method: Video-‐based Lesson Video Length: 00: Classroom Environment: Virtual Classroom Materials Required: Internet Access

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References: International Fire Service Training Association. Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations, 5th ed. , Upper Saddle River, N.J.; Brady/Prentice Hall Health; Stillwater, OK: Fire Service Publications, 2008.

Supplemental Materials: Lesson Plan, PowerPoint Presentation Assignment Details: 1. Watch the video lesson provided 2. Review materials 3. It is imperative that students read the text

4. The text for the course is Essentials of Firefighting, 5th edition, from IFSTA

5. Take the online quiz Instructor: Chip Simmons Date: June 2010

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Fire Fighting 1-‐ Chapter 7 -‐ Lesson Outline I. Introduction

A. Opening Statement

Rope is one of the oldest tools used by firefighters. Rope is useful for a variety of applications such as hoisting tools, gaining access to and rescuing people who are stranded above or below grade, stabilizing vehicles, and cordoning off areas. As a firefighter, you need to know the different types of rope so that you can choose the correct one for the job at hand. As used in this manual, the word knot includes all the knots, loops, bends, and hitches used in fire service applications. The ability to tie these knots correctly and quickly is crucial to the safety and effectiveness of rope-‐based operations.

B. Review Training Objectives

II. Body

A. Introduction to Ropes Student Note: The purpose of this section is to introduce you to ropes, rope materials, and rope construction. Several examples of the various types of rope are discussed in this lesson. To support your learning experience, you may want to obtain a 10-‐foot (3 m) section of rope for you to practice the knots. Ropes are unique in that you can practice them at home or any place away from the training center. 1. Characteristics of life-‐safety rope and utility rope.

Student Note: Read p. 264

a. Life-‐safety rope

1) Used to support rescuers and/or victims during actual incidents or

training 2) Must conform to NFPA® 1983, Standard on Life Safety Rope and

Equipment for Emergency Services 3) Must be block creel construction using continuous filament virgin

fiber for load-‐bearing elements

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b. Utility rope

1) Used in instances where rope is required but is not used to support

rescuers and/or victims in any way (a) Hoist equipment (b) Secure unstable objects (c) Cordon off an area

2) Industry standards exist concerning the physical properties of utility

rope 3) No standards set forth for utility rope applications 4) Regularly inspect for damage

Note to Student: Question: What experiences have you had with either life-‐safety rope and/or utility rope?

2. Criteria for reusing life-‐safety rope.

Student Note: Read pp. 264-‐265 a. Requirements of NFPA® 1983

1) Rope manufacturers must supply purchasers with information

regarding: (a) Use criteria (b) Inspection procedures (c). Maintenance procedures (d) Criteria for retiring life-‐safety rope from service

2) Criteria to consider before life-‐safety rope is reused in life-‐safety

situations

(a) Rope must not be visibly damaged.

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(b) Rope must not show abrasions or have been exposed to high

temperatures or direct flame contact. (c) Rope has not been impact loaded. (d) Rope must not have been exposed to liquids, solids, gases,

mists, or vapors from any chemical or material that can deteriorate rope.

(e) Rope must pass inspection made by a qualified person both

before and after each use. Inspection procedures must follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

b. Removing a life-‐safety rope from service

1) Any life-‐safety rope that fails to pass inspection or has been impact

loaded should be destroyed immediately. 2) “Destroy” means that it is altered in such a manner that it cannot be

mistaken for life-‐safety rope. (a) Disposing of rope entirely (b) Removing manufacturer’s label, cutting into shorter lengths,

and clearly marking it as utility rope 3) Rope subjected to impact loading must have an entry made in its log

because there is no way to determine by inspection if the rope has been impact loaded.

3. Rope materials.

Student Note: Read pp. 265-‐266

a. Natural fiber rope

1) Was the primary type of rope used for rescue until the last half of the

20th century 2) Most are made of hemp or cotton

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3) No longer accepted for use in life-‐safety applications 4) Can be used for utility purposes such as hoisting equipment or

stabilizing objects 5) Made of short overlapping strands of fiber

b. Synthetic rope

1) Preferred for life-‐safety applications 2) Has excellent resistance to mildew and rotting, excellent strength, and

is easy to maintain 3) May feature continuous fibers running the entire length of the rope

Student Note: Firefighters should become familiar with the manufacturer’s specifications and limitations for the ropes used in their department. Being a professional firefighter is not dependent on whether they are volunteer or paid, but rather on knowing all the specifications of ANY tool or piece of equipment they might be called upon to use. Ropes are no different.

4. Types of rope construction.

Student Note: Read pp. 267-‐269 a. Types of rope used in life-‐safety situations

1) Dynamic (high-‐stretch) rope

(a) Used when long falls are a possibility (b) Designed to stretch without breaking (c) Elasticity is a disadvantage when trying to raise or lower heavy

loads. (d) Not considered practical for rescue or hauling applications

2) Static (low-‐stretch) rope

(a) Used for most rope-‐rescue incidents

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(b) Designed for low stretch without breaking (c). According to NFPA® 1983, must not elongate more than 10

percent when tested under a load equal to 10 percent of its breaking strength

(d) Used for rescue, rappelling, hauling, and where falls are not

likely to occur or only very short falls are possible

b. NFPA® 1983 categories of life-‐safety rope

1) Light-‐use

(a) Is ⅜-‐inch (9.5 mm) in diameter or greater, but less than ½-‐inch (12.5 mm), and intended to support the weight of one person

(b) Must have a minimum breaking strength of 4,500 pounds (20

k/N), and a maximum safe working load limit of 300 pounds (136 kg)

2) General-‐use

(a) Is 7/16-‐inch (11 mm) in diameter or greater, but less than or

equal to ⅝-‐inch (16 mm), and intended to support the weight of two persons

(b) Must have a minimum breaking strength of nearly 9,000

pounds (40 k/N), and a maximum safe working load limit of 600 pounds (272 kg)

3) Throwline

(a) Is 19/64-‐inch (7 mm) in diameter or greater, but less than ⅜-‐

inch (9.5 mm), and used to tether rescuers during water rescues or to throw to a victim in the water

(b) Must have a minimum breaking strength of about 3,000

pounds (13 k/N), and a maximum safe working load limit of 200 pounds (91 kg)

c. Escape rope

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1) While not considered either life-‐safety or utility rope, escape rope is

constructed in the same manner as life-‐safety rope. 2) Must meet generally the same elongation, breaking strength, and safe

working load requirements as throwline 3) Intended to be used one time only and then destroyed

d. Common types of rope construction (all of which must be of block creel

construction)

1) Kernmantle rope

(a) A jacketed rope composed of a braided covering or sheath (mantle) over a core (kern) of the main load-‐bearing strands

(b) The core strands run parallel with the rope’s length and work

in conjunction with the covering, which increases the rope’s stretch resistance and load characteristics.

(c) The load characteristics are also affected by the method of

manufacture. (d) The core is made of high-‐strength fibers, usually nylon; these

account for 75 percent of the total strength of the rope. (e) The sheath provides the rest of the rope’s overall strength and

protects the core from abrasion and contamination. (f) Kernmantle rope comes in both high-‐stretch and low-‐stretch

types. (g) High-‐stretch kernmantle is most commonly used as a sport

rope for recreational rock or ice climbing. (h) Low-‐stretch kernmantle is most commonly used as rescue rope

where stretch is an undesirable characteristic.

2) Laid (twisted) natural or synthetic rope

(a) Typical of most natural fiber ropes and some synthetic ropes

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(b) Constructed by twisting yarns together to form strands (c) Generally, three strands are twisted together to make the final

rope. (d) How tightly these ropes are twisted and the type of fiber used

determine the rope’s properties. (e) Twisted rope is susceptible to abrasion and other types of

physical damage. (f) Twisting a rope leaves all three load-‐bearing strands exposed

along the entire length of the rope. (g) Although this exposure allows for easy inspection, it also

means that any damage immediately affects the rope’s strength.

(h) Laid ropes are almost exclusively used as utility ropes.

3) Braided rope

(a) Most are of the synthetic variety (b) Constructed by uniformly intertwining strands of rope

together (similar to braiding a person’s hair) (c) Reduces or eliminates the twisting common in laid ropes (d) Because of its construction characteristics, the load-‐bearing

fibers are subject to direct abrasion and damage. (e) Most commonly used as utility rope

4) Braid-‐on-‐braid rope (double braid)

(a) Because it is a jacketed rope, it is often confused with

kernmantle rope. (b) Constructed with both a braided core and a braided sheath (c) The sheath has a herringbone-‐pattern appearance.

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(d) Very strong; half of its strength is in the sheath and the other

half is in the core (e) A disadvantage is that it does not resist abrasion as well as

kernmantle rope. (f) Another disadvantage is that the sheath may slide along the

inner core of the rope. (g) Most often used in utility applications

B. Rope Maintenance

Student Note: The purpose of this section is to introduce you to rope maintenance. Emphasis is on the importance of rope maintenance in the fire service. Student Note: Read pp. 269-‐272 1. Basic guidelines for rope maintenance.

a. General guidelines

1) Inspect all types of rope after each use. 2) Unused ropes should be inspected at least annually. 3) Inspect rope visually and by touch. 4) Inspect for imbedded shards of glass, metal shavings, wood splinters,

or other foreign objects that could cause damage. If any of these are found, the rope should be taken out of service.

5) All inspections should be documented in the rope log.

b. Types of rope

1) Kernmantle rope

(a) Inspecting kernmantle rope for damage is somewhat difficult

because the damage may not be obvious.

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i. The inspection can be performed by putting a slight tension on the rope while feeling for any lumps, depressions, or soft spots.

ii. A temporary soft spot resulting from hard knots or

sharp bends in the rope may be felt; however, the fibers within the core may realign themselves over time if the rope is undamaged.

iii. The only way to determine whether such a soft spot is

damage or just temporarily misaligned core fibers is by carefully inspecting the outer sheath.

iv. Any damage to the outer sheath indicates probable

damage to the core. The core of a kernmantle rope can be damaged without visible evidence on the outer sheath.

(b) If there is any doubt about the rope’s integrity, it should be

downgraded to utility status. (c) The rope should also be inspected for irregularities in shape or

weave, foul smells, discoloration from chemical contamination, roughness, abrasions, or fuzziness.

i. A certain amount of fuzziness is normal and is not

necessarily a cause for concern. ii. If there is a great amount of fuzziness in one spot or if

the overall amount is excessive based upon the inspector’s judgment and experience, the rope should be downgraded.

2) Laid rope

(a) Inspect synthetic laid ropes for soft, crusty, stiff, or brittle

spots; for areas of excessive stretching; for cuts, nicks, or abrasions; for chemical damage; for dirt or grease; and for other obvious flaws.

(b) Should be untwisted and checked internally for these flaws

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(c) In synthetic laid rope the presence of mildew does not necessarily indicate a problem; however, the rope should be cleaned and reinspected.

(d) In natural fiber rope, a foul smell might indicate rotting or

mildew.

3) Braided rope (a) Visually inspect for exterior damage such as heat sears (caused

by friction or fire), nicks, and cuts. (b) Visually inspect for excess or unusual fuzziness. (c) Tactilely inspect for permanent mushy spots or other

deformities.

4) Braid-‐on-‐braid rope (a) Inspect for heat sears, nicks, and cuts. (b) Inspect for the sheath sliding on the core. If sliding is found, cut

the end of the rope and pull off the excess material; then seal the end.

(c) Inspect for lumps that indicate core damage. A reduction in the

rope’s diameter may indicate a break in the core. (d) Carefully examine any type of damage or questionable wear to

the sheath.

c. Maintaining a rope log

1) When a piece of rescue rope is purchased, it must be permanently identified. Many departments identify new ropes by marking the ends with the unit number and the date it was placed in service.

2) A record (rope log) must be started and kept throughout the rope’s

working life. (a) The date of each use and the inspection/maintenance records

of the rope should be entered into the log.

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(b) This information helps determine when the rope should be retired.

(c). The log should be kept in a waterproof envelope and placed in

a pocket that is usually sewn on the side of the rope’s storage bag.

d. Cleaning rope

1) Recommended methods of washing and drying rope vary with each

manufacturer, so it is always advisable to contact them for specific cleaning and drying instructions for the type of rope or ropes in use.

2) Natural fibers

(a) Natural fiber rope cannot be cleaned effectively because water

cannot be used in the cleaning process. (b) Water initially strengthens natural fiber rope; however, after

continual exposure to wetting and drying, water weakens and damages the fiber.

(c) Wipe or gently brush the rope to remove as much of the dirt

and grit as possible. 3) Synthetic fibers

(a) Cool water and mild soap are least likely to damage synthetic

fiber ropes. (b) Bleaches or strong cleaners should not be used. (c) Some synthetic rope may feel stiff after washing, but this is not

a cause for concern. (d) There are three principal ways to clean synthetic rope: hand

washing, special rope-‐washing device, or front-‐loading washing machine. i. Washing by hand consists of wiping the rope with a

cloth or scrubbing it with a brush and then thoroughly rinsing with clean water.

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ii. Commercial rope-‐washing devices can be connected to a standard faucet or garden hose.

iii. Front-‐loading washing machines without plastic

windows are the best type to use for washing synthetic rope.

(e) Once the rope has been washed, it should be dried. It can be

spread out on a hose rack out of direct sunlight, suspended in a hose tower, or loosely coiled in a hose dryer.

2. Procedures for storing life-‐safety rope.

Student Note: Read pp. 272-‐273 a. General storing considerations

1) Can be stored in coils or in rope bags 2) Should be stored in spaces or compartments that are clean and dry

but have adequate ventilation 3) Should not be exposed to chemical contaminants, such as battery acid

or hydrocarbon fuels, or the fumes or vapors of these substances 4) Should not be stored in the same compartments where gasoline-‐

powered rescue tools or the spare fuel for these tools are stored

b. Bagging a rope

1) The best method for storing kernmantle rope and other life-‐safety rope is to place it into a storage bag.

2) The bag makes the rope easy to transport and protects the rope from

contamination. 3) An additional advantage of storing synthetic rope in a bag is that the

rope can be deployed quickly by holding the end of the rope and throwing or dropping the bag.

4) The weight of the rope inside the bag carries the bag toward the

target and the rope pays out as the bag travels through the air.

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5) The bag may have a drawstring and shoulder straps for ease in carrying. Nylon or canvas bags are commonly used.

C. Coiling/uncoiling a rope

1) Coiling rope so that it may be placed into service with a minimum of

delay is very important in the fire service. 2) An improperly coiled rope may become tangled and fail to uncoil,

resulting in the failure of an evolution.

C. Webbing 1. Webbing and webbing construction.


a. Webbing

1) Webbing is often used in conjunction with ropes. 2) Most webbing is made from the same materials as synthetic rope so

the same precautions and maintenance procedures apply. 3) The size of webbing needed varies with the intended use. Although 1-‐

inch (25 mm) webbing is widely used in the fire service, most webbing used for lifting and pulling operations starts at about 2 inches (50 mm) in width.

b. Webbing construction — Two main types

1) One has a solid, flat design and the other (more common) has a

tubular design. 2) Both types look the same unless viewed at the ends. 3) The tubular webbing is also of two designs: a spiral weave and a chain

weave. 4) Overall, the spiral weave is stronger and more resistant to abrasion

than the chain weave.

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D. Ropes, Knots, and Hardware

Student Note: The purpose of this section is to introduce students to knots and hardware. Have examples of hardware for students to examine. Allow students to practice the knots in the classroom.


1. Parts of a rope and considerations in tying a knot.

a. Parts of a rope

1) The running end of a rope is the free end that is used for hoisting,

pulling, or belaying. 2) The working end of a rope is that which is tied to the object being

raised, lowered, or stabilized. 3) The standing part of a rope is that section between the working end

and the running end.

b. Considerations

1) Knots are used to join or connect ropes or webbing, form loops in ropes or webbing, or to attach ropes or webbing to objects.

2) All knots should be dressed (tightened) after they are tied. 3) However, even knots that are properly dressed and secure when tied

to an object can sometimes loosen or fail because of repeated loading and unloading of the rope.

(a) One way to prevent such failures is to tie a safety knot in the

tail (sometimes called the bitter end) of the working end of the rope.

(b) Safety knots include the single-‐ and double-‐overhand knots.

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Note to Student: Question: Why are knots important in the fire service? Emphasis is on the importance of ropes and knots in the fire service.

2. Knot characteristics and knot elements.


a. Knot characteristics

1) To be suitable for use in rescue, a knot must be easy to tie and untie,

be secure under load, and reduce the rope’s strength as little as possible.

2) A rope’s strength is reduced to some degree whenever it is bent. The

tighter the bend, the more strength is lost. 3) Bight, loop, and round turn are names for the bends that a rope

undergoes in the formation of a knot or hitch. 4) Knots and hitches are formed by combining these elements in

different ways so that the tight part of the rope bears on the working end to hold it in place.

b. Knot elements

Student Note: As you learn these elements, try to follow along with you own ropes.

1) The bight is formed by simply bending the rope back on itself while

keeping the sides parallel. 2) The loop is made by crossing the side of a bight over the standing part. 3) The round turn consists of further bending one side of a loop.

3. Characteristics of knots commonly used in the fire service. Student Note: Read pp. 275-‐278

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Student Note: If possible, try to practice knot typing after this discussion. This provides you an opportunity to immediately apply the information you’ve just been presented.

a. Single/double overhand safety knots

1) As an added measure of safety, an overhand safety knot (often just

called a safety) can be used when tying any type of knot. 2) Although any properly tied knot should hold, it is best to provide the

highest level of safety possible. 3) Use of the overhand safety knot eliminates the danger of the end of

the rope slipping back through the knot and causing the knot to fail.

b. Bowline

1) The bowline is one of the most important knots in the fire service. 2) The bowline is easily tied and untied, and is good for forming a single

loop that will not constrict the object it is placed around. 3) Firefighters should be able to tie the bowline in the open as well as

around an object.

c. Half-‐hitch

1) The half-‐hitch is particularly useful in stabilizing tall objects that are being hoisted. The half-‐hitch is always used in conjunction with another knot or hitch.

2) The half-‐hitch is formed by making a round turn around the object.

The standing part of the rope is passed under the round turn on the side opposite the intended direction of pull.

3) Several half-‐hitches can be applied in succession if required.

d. Clove hitch

1) The clove hitch may be formed by several methods. It consists

essentially of two half-‐hitches. Its principal use is to attach a rope to an object such as a pole, post, or hoseline.

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2) Because it is highly susceptible to failure when repeatedly loaded and

unloaded, the clove hitch is not regarded as suitable for use in anchoring a life-‐safety rope (or in a life-‐safety application).

3) The clove hitch may be formed anywhere in the rope from either end

to the middle. 4) When properly applied, it withstands a steady pull in either direction

without slipping. 5) If the knot will be subjected to repeated loading and unloading, it

should be backed up with an overhand safety knot.

e. Figure-‐eight family of knots — Has gained increased acceptance and popularity for fire and rescue service applications

1) Figure eight — The foundation knot for the entire family of figure

eights; can also be used as a stopper knot so the rope will not pass through the grommet of a rope bag or through a rescue pulley

2) Figure-‐eight bend — Also known as the Flemish Bend, is used

primarily on life-‐safety rope to tie ropes of equal diameters together 3) Figure eight on a bight — A good way to tie a closed loop in the end of

a rope; it is tied by forming a bight in either the end of the rope and then tying a simple figure eight with the bight in the doubled part of the rope

4) Figure-‐eight follow-‐through — Used to secure a rope around an

object; starts off with a single figure eight, then the end of the rope is wrapped around an object and follows back through the single figure eight. The outcome is a figure eight on a bight that is around an object.

f. Becket bend (sheet bend)

1) Used for joining two ropes of unequal diameters or joining a rope and

a chain 2) It is unlikely to slip when the rope is wet. 3) These advantages make it useful and dependable in fire service rope

work.

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4) It is not suitable in life-‐safety applications.

g. Water knot

1) The preferred knot for joining two pieces of webbing or the ends of

the same piece when a loop is needed 2) Similar to the figure-‐eight follow-‐through, the water knot is formed by

tying a simple overhand knot in one piece or end and following it through in the reverse direction with another piece or end.

4. Commonly used rope hardware for specific applications.

Student Note: Read p. 278 a. Commonly used hardware items

1) Carabiner — A metal snap link used to connect elements of a rescue

system together 2) Figure-‐eight plate (descender) — Used for rappelling or as a friction

brake in lowering systems 3) Brake bar rack (descender) — Used for rappelling or as a friction

brake 4) Ascender — Used to ascend a vertical rope 5) Pulleys — Used in rescue systems to change the direction of pull or to

generate mechanical advantage

E. Hoisting Safety

1. Hoisting safety considerations.


a. Using rope for hoisting

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1) One of the most common uses of rope in the fire service is to raise or lower various tools and pieces of equipment from one elevation to another.

2) A thorough knowledge of knots and hitches makes this a safe and

efficient practice. 3) Anything with a closed-‐type D-‐ring handle can be raised or lowered

using a bowline or figure-‐eight bend. 4) Hoisting pressurized cylinders, such as fire extinguishers or SCBA

cylinders, is not 5) Using the proper knots and securing procedures helps to prevent

dropping of the equipment. This avoids damage to the equipment and prevents possible injury to anyone standing below.

6) Depending on local policy, a separate guideline may also be tied to any

of these pieces of equipment or the object may be tied in the center of the rope so that the hoisting rope also serves as the guideline.

b. Hoisting safety considerations

1) General safety considerations

(a) Have solid footing and make necessary preparations before

starting a hoisting operation. (b) Use the hand-‐over-‐hand method to maintain control of the

rope during a hoisting operation. (c) Use an edge roller or padding to protect rope from physical

damage when it must be pulled over sharp edges such as cornices or parapet walls.

(d) Work in teams to ensure firefighter safety when working from

heights. (e) Look to ensure all personnel are clear of the hoisting area.

(f) Avoid hoisting operations near electrical hazards if possible. If

this is not possible, use extreme caution.

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(g) Secure the nozzles of any charged hoselines to prevent accidental discharge when hoisting.

(h) Use a guideline to help control the object being hoisted.

2) Hoisting an axe — The procedure for attaching and hoisting an axe is

the same for either a pick-‐head axe or a flat-‐head axe. 3) Hoisting a pike pole — To raise a pike pole (with the head up), tie a

clove hitch near the butt end of the handle, followed by a half-‐hitch in the middle of the handle and another half-‐hitch around the head.

4) Hoisting a ladder — Tie a bowline or figure eight on a bight and slip it

first through two rungs of the ladder about one-‐third of the way down from the top. After pulling that loop through, slip it over the top of the ladder.

5) Hoisting hoselines — Hoisting hose is often the fastest and possibly

the safest way of getting hoselines to upper levels. As with advancing hose up a ladder, it is easier and safer to hoist a dry hoseline than one that is charged; however, charged lines may also be hoisted. Whenever possible, bleed the pressure from a charged hoseline before hoisting it.

6) Hoisting portable fans — To hoist a smoke ejector, tie a bowline or

figure-‐eight on a bight around two of the connecting rods between the front and back plates; on blowers, tie the knot through the carrying handle. This will be the hauling line. Attach a guideline to the bottom of the unit.

7) Hoisting a power saw — To hoist a rotary saw or chain saw, tie a

bowline or figure-‐eight bend through the closed handle. Attach a guideline through the same handle.

F. Rescue Rope and Harness

Student Note: The purpose of this section is to discuss rescue rope and harnesses. Student Note: Read pp. 282-‐283

1. Rescue rope and harness.

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a. Rescue rope

1) When victims are located above or below grade and need to be

rescued, the most efficient and sometimes the only means of reaching them and getting them to ground level may be by the use of ropes and rope systems.

2) Rope rescue is a technical skill that requires specialized training. 3) Rescue rope is used for a variety of purposes.

(a) Rescue rope and harnesses are used to protect rescuers and

victims as they move and/or work in elevated locations where a fall could cause injury or death.

(b) In combination with webbing, harness, and appropriate

hardware, rope is the primary means for raising and lowering rescuers, equipment, and victims.

b. Rescue harness

1) Three classes of rescue harness are recognized in the fire service.

(a) Class I harness, also known as a seat harness, fastens around

the waist and around the thighs or under the buttocks and is intended to be used for emergency escape with a load of up to 300 pounds (1.33 k/N).

(b) Class II harness fastens in the same manner as Class I harness

but is rated for up to a 600-‐pound (2.67 k/N) load. Class II harness looks exactly like Class I harness so the attached label must be used to verify its rating.

(c) Class III harness, also known as full body harness, fastens

around the waist, around the thighs or under the buttocks, and over the shoulders. Like Class II harness, Class III harness is rated for loads of up to 600 pounds (2.67 k/N).

III. Conclusion

A. Summary

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Rope is one of the oldest and most basic tools used by firefighters. It is used to stabilize vehicles and other objects, hoist tools and equipment aloft, and to allow firefighters to access and rescue victims who are stranded above or below grade, or in bodies of water. Rope is also used to help firefighters escape from life-‐threatening situations.

To use rope safely and effectively during fires and rescue operations, firefighters must

know the various types of ropes and their applications. They must also be capable of tying a variety of knots and hitches quickly and correctly — and that takes practice. Firefighters must know how to inspect, clean, and store ropes so that they are ready for use when needed.

B. Review Training Objectives

firefighter 1 chapter 7 ropes and knots lesson plan … · 4!!!!...

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