Aerial Rescue
Introduction to Aerial Rescue
• Most tree work is done high above the ground, using cutting tools and sometimes close to energized electrical conductors. Under these circumstances, an emergency could develop that would require an immediate aerial rescue.
• The knowledge and skills needed to rescue an injured tree worker are unique to the tree care industry.
• The victim is often high above the ground, inaccessible to emergency vehicles and medical personnel.
• A victim’s chances of survival may be dependent on the ability of fellow workers to safely and quickly lower the victim to the ground.
• All Energy Group employees MUST be trained and certified in aerial rescue techniques before attempting an aerial rescue.
Never attempt an aerial rescue unless you are trained and certified to perform aerial rescues, are sure that a rescue should be performed and that it can be done safely. Cardinal Rule of Aerial Rescue: The rescuer must not become a victim when conducting an actual or practice aerial rescue.
Scenarios That May Require Aerial Rescue
• One reason for an aerial rescue could be the climber’s exposure to electrical power lines. The injury can vary in severity, from minor burns to cardiac arrest. Whatever the situation, it is important for the rescuer to be aware of the high degree of risk of the rescuer also getting exposed to the hazard of electrical shock. Think before you act. Never attempt a rescue in a tree with direct exposure to power lines. Follow the Aerial Rescue Decision Flow Chart process.
• Another reason for an aerial rescue may be that the climber is pinned, pinched or struck by a tree limb.
• An aerial lift operator or a climber may be experiencing an equipment problem that requires aerial rescue.
• An aerial lift operator or a climber may have cut themselves with the chainsaw or handsaw and may need an aerial rescue.
• A climber may have fallen and may be unconscious and stranded or tangled on a branch of the tree
In ALL cases where an aerial rescue may be required, Energy Group employees must follow the Aerial Rescue Decision Flowchart defined below to determine how to proceed.
Aerial Rescue Decision Flowchart
Strictly follow the defined steps for Aerial Rescue decision making in the flowchart below:
1. Identify if a victim needs to be rescued. If the person is unconscious or injured and cannot get to the ground on their own, then a recue is needed. Assess the situation from the ground by talking to the ground crew about what happened and if possible, talk to the person that needs aerial rescue to assess their injuries.
2. Decision – Is there an electrical hazard present? If yes, immediately go to step 4. Approach the job site area carefully to look for hazards by walking all the way around the job site to verify the information about what caused the need for aerial rescue.
3. If a rescue is needed, then call 911 and let the dispatch person know that you have a person injured while working in a tree, pin-point the location and if electrical power lines are involved in the accident. If cell phone service is not available on the job site, then assign a person in the crew to go to an area that has cell service and call 911 as soon as possible and report the location of the aerial rescue needed, while the potential aerial rescuer remains at the job site.
4. If an electrical hazard is present, you must call the utility and then call 911 to report the accident.
5. Determine if the electrical hazard can be avoided, eliminated or controlled. If the electrical hazard can be managed, then go to step 6. If the electrical hazard cannot be managed, then stop and secure the area, and wait for EMS or fire rescue professionals. 6. Take steps to manage the electrical hazard or other hazards in the area.
7. Determine if the rescue can be performed without any undue risk to the rescuers or others. If not, then secure the area and wait for EMS or fire rescue professionals. If a rescue can be performed safely, then go to step 8.
8. Determine if the victim is conscious and responsive to your questions. If the victim is unconscious, then go to step 9. If the victim is conscious and responsive, then go to step 10.
9. Climb the tree or use another bucket truck lift to get near the victim and further assess the condition.
10. Talk to the victim and determine what is the best rescue method. Determine if there is any immediate danger or health risk to the victim. If there is immediate danger or health risk, then go to step 12.
11. When you have reached the victim, assess the victim’s breathing, pulse or heart rate, if bleeding can be stopped, or if bones may be broken. If no bones or broken and the victim can be safely rescued, go to step 14.
12. If a serious injury may have occurred to the victim’s spine or neck, then donot move the victim.
13. Secure the victim in place as best as possible and wait for EMT or fire rescue professionals. Attend to the victim’s needs if bleeding and it can be stopped.
14. Perform the rescue and lower the victim to the ground.
15. Administer first aid and/or CPR if needed while waiting for EMS or fire rescue professionals.
16. Secure the area and wait for EMS or fire rescue professionals.
See Exhibit: Aerial Rescue Flowchart for a 1-page visual diagram of the decision process
Aerial Rescue Preparedness
• Make sure that you have an aerial rescue kit available (typically a smaller package of basic first aid supplies that a rescue climber or aerial lift operator can bring up to the victim).
• Make sure that cell phone service is available, or if not then make sure the crew knows the closest location where cell service is available.
• Get as many of the crew members certified in aerial rescue as possible to increase the odds of having trained and certified rescuers nearby to quickly assess the situation.
• All certified aerial rescuers will need to have access to their own climbing gear in case a aerial lift device is not available in the area.
Certified Aerial Rescue Techniques
Two Person Rescue Method
• Before moving the victim, the rescuer will need to verify if the victim is conscious, check breathing, pulse, and determine if the victim has broken bones. Never move a victim that has severe neck or spine injuries as moving the victim may cause further damage or paralysis. If the person has severe neck or spine injuries, then attend to the victim in the tree and wait for EMS to support with more advanced equipment to lower the victim. If the victim has severe bleeding, then the rescuer should use BBP protective gloves and try to stop bleeding with a bandage and tourniquet before lowering the victim.
• Two-person rescue is preferred when possible as it allows for the most support for the victim on the descent.
• The victim will need to be released from their hitch to allow a ground person to safely lower them to the ground. However, before being released, the victim's rope end that hangs to the ground must be secured around a tree and also held by the ground person. The victim's climbing rope can then be untied at the hitch or cut between the victim's saddle and the hitch. When cutting a rope, only do this as a last resort and verify that the victim is securely tethered with a lanyard to the climber rescuer’s life support system as backup support before making the cut.
• To help identify the rope to be cut, climbers should tie a figure "8" knot in the section of rope between your saddle and your hitch as well as the one on the end of your rope, beyond the hitch (if using a Blake’s hitch for example). In an emergency, this will help a rescuer confidently identify where to make the cut after confirming that the victim is tethered to the rescuer’s life support system. The figure 8 knot also makes the rope easier visually to identify where to cut and may be cut with a pole pruner because the pruner can be worked against the topside of the figure 8 knot. Braided rope, however, may be extremely difficult to cut with a pole pruner and may require the use of a pocketknife.
• When there are two rescuers available, after the rescue climber has tethered the victim with a lanyard to their life support system and after the victim is free from the tree, one rescuer on the ground lowers the victim slowly using the victim’s life support system, while the other rescuer in the tree guides the victim down using the rescuer’s life support system thereby protecting the victim from hitting the tree on the descent. The guiding rescuer descends on a separate life support system that is tethered with a lanyard between the saddle of the climber rescuer to the victim’s saddle as backup support. The ground person lowering the victim needs to coordinate the pace of lowering with the climber rescuer to match the pace of descent.
One Person Double Life Support Rescue Method
• Before moving the victim, the rescuer will need to verify if the victim is conscious, check breathing, pulse, and determine if the victim has broken bones. Never move a victim that has severe neck or spine injuries as moving the victim may cause further damage or paralysis. If the person has severe neck or spine injuries, then attend to the victim in the tree and wait for EMS to support with more advanced equipment to lower the victim. If the victim has severe bleeding, then the rescuer should use BBP protective gloves and try to stop bleeding with a bandage and tourniquet before lowering the victim.
• This is the preferred method of rescue for a single rescuer situation where the victim’s rope and climbing system remains safe and usable.
• To perform this rescue, the climber rescuer will climb the tree and get near the victim.
• Upon reaching the victim, reset your life support line roughly above the victim to allow for a parallel descent of the rescuer and the victim’s life support lines. The rescue climber should try not to use the same crotch that the victim’s life support is tied into as it may tangle ropes or cause too much stress on the crotch of the tree and cause catastrophic failure.
• The climber rescuer will lower themselves on their hitch and life support system while simultaneously lowering the victim on the victim's hitch and life support system. Since both hands are busy working both knots, you must rely on your feet for maneuvering. You may wrap your lanyard or buck-strap around the victim and secure it back to your saddle to keep the victim positioned close to the rescuer. When moving to clear a limb, the victim follows, as if you were one climber.
One Person Rescuer’s Life Support Method
• Before moving the victim, the rescuer will need to verify if the victim is conscious, check breathing, pulse, and determine if the victim has broken bones. Never move a victim that has severe neck or spine injuries as moving the victim may cause further damage or paralysis. If the person has severe neck or spine injuries, then attend to the victim in the tree and wait for EMS to support with more advanced equipment to lower the victim. If the victim has severe bleeding, then the rescuer should use BBP protective gloves and try to stop bleeding with a bandage and tourniquet before lowering the victim.
• If only one rescuer is available, the climber rescuer must first tie off the victim's rope end that hangs to the ground either in the tree to a branch, or before climbing the tree. After climbing the tree, the rescuer transfers the victim to the rescuer’s life support system by straddling the victim and securing the climber rescuer’s saddle directly to the victim’s saddle and then either unties the victim’s hitch or cuts the victim’s rope between the saddle and the hitch.
• Then, the rescuer descends the tree with the victim slowly as the extra weight of the victim will dramatically affect the rescuer’s hitch performance in the decent. In this case, the victim would not be guided down and may hit the tree or bump against branches on the decent as the rescuer is focused on controlling the hitch for a smooth decent and will not be able to reposition the victim. This could be a disadvantage, especially if the victim were unconscious and hanging upside down. Other methods may be more desirable when only one rescuer is available and greater control is needed due to a complicated decent.
One Person Rescuer Life Support Noose Rescue Method
• Before moving the victim, the rescuer will need to verify if the victim is conscious, check breathing, pulse, and determine if the victim has broken bones. Never move a victim that has severe neck or spine injuries as moving the victim may cause further damage or paralysis. If the person has severe neck or spine injuries, then attend to the victim in the tree and wait for EMS to support with more advanced equipment to lower the victim. If the victim has severe bleeding, then the rescuer should use BBP protective gloves and try to stop bleeding with a bandage and tourniquet before lowering the victim. • Similar to the One Person Rescuer’s Life Support Method, climber rescuer must first tie off the victim's rope end that hangs to the ground either in the tree to a branch, or before climbing the tree.
• This rescue is may be appropriate when the victim's saddle is unusable and the victim cannot be transferred easily to the rescuer’s life support system. This method should be used only as a last resort if other methods are not suitable.
• Climb the tree and when the rescue climber reaches the victim, extend your lanyard or buck-strap to its full length and wrap it around the victim, under the arms, and secure the end of the lanyard back on to itself in front of the victim like a noose that tightens when weight is applied. The other end of the safety strap or buck strap is then secured to the rescuer’s "D" ring. Now the victim can be suspended directly beneath the rescuer in a vertical position. The rescuer can descend with the victim, carefully guiding the victim to the ground.
Aerial Rescue Pulley or Rigging Rescue Method
• Before moving the victim, the rescuer will need to verify if the victim is conscious, check breathing, pulse, and determine if the victim has broken bones. Never move a victim that has severe neck or spine injuries as moving the victim may cause further damage or paralysis. If the person has severe neck or spine injuries, then attend to the victim in the tree and wait for EMS to support with more advanced equipment to lower the victim. If the victim has severe bleeding, then the rescuer should use BBP protective gloves and try to stop bleeding with a bandage and tourniquet before lowering the victim.
• This aerial rescue method uses a pulley or rigging device or natural crotch above the victim and rope to lower the victim to the ground.
• When the rescue climber has ascended the tree and is in a position near the victim, they will need to set the pulley or steel ring or rigging device or a natural crotch above the victim. Then the second climbing rope is placed through the pulley, rigging device or crotch and pulled through and secured to the saddle of the victim.
• The lower end of the installed second climbing rope will need to be secured to the base of the tree as backup safety support and a ground person will control the rope on a rigging descent to lower the victim safely to the ground.
• Before lowering the victim, the rescue climber will then need to disconnect the victim from their original climbing rope and system by untying the hitch or cutting the rope between the victim’s saddle and hitch. Before cutting the rope the rescue climber should attached their lanyard to the victim’s saddle as backup safety support.
Lower Controls Aerial Lift Rescue Method
Special procedures are necessary to lower the boom and perform an aerial rescue when a worker in an aerial lift is seriously injured.
• An aerial lift or any other piece of equipment contacting an energized conductor, may become energized. Any rescue attempt must consider this. At no time should any worker standing on the ground touch the equipment during an electrical emergency, as electric shock could result.
• The ground around an energized vehicle may also be energized, especially in the area of the outriggers. When walking in an area where the ground may be electrically charged because of aerial lift and conductor contact, use short or "shuffle" steps to prevent "bridging" two areas of different electrical potential which could shock you.
• If the truck and boom are verified to not be energized, then the rescuer can operate the lower controls to lower the victim down to the ground.
Second Lift Aerial Lift Rescue Method
Special procedures are necessary to lower the boom and perform an aerial rescue when a worker in an aerial lift is seriously injured.
• This method utilizes a second truck with a boom lift to save the victim by removing them from their lift bucket and bringing the victim down using the rescuer’s lift bucket.
• Before moving the victim, the rescuer will need to verify if the victim is conscious, check breathing, pulse, and determine if the victim has broken bones. Never move a victim that has severe neck or spine injuries as moving the victim may cause further damage or paralysis. If the person has severe neck or spine injuries, then attend to the victim in the tree and wait for EMS to support with more advanced equipment to lower the victim. If the victim has severe bleeding, then the rescuer should use BBP protective gloves and try to stop bleeding with a bandage and tourniquet before lowering the victim.
• An aerial lift or any other piece of equipment contacting an energized conductor, may become energized. Any rescue attempt must consider this. At no time should any worker standing on the ground touch the equipment during an electrical emergency, as electric shock could result.
• The ground around an energized vehicle may also be energized, especially in the area of the outriggers. When walking in an area where the ground may be electrically charged because of aerial lift and conductor contact, use short or "shuffle" steps to prevent "bridging" two areas of different electrical potential which could shock you.
• If the truck and boom are verified to not be energized, then the rescuer can maneuver their truck and boom lift bucket near the victim.
• The rescuer will need to bring a lanyard to secure the victim temporarily to the rescuer’s bucket, then reach into the victim’s bucket and unhitch their saddle from the victim’s bucket.
• The rescuer will need to bring the victim into their bucket and then lower the bucket to the ground or top of the truck to allow EMS to gain access to the victim.
Aerial Rescue Conclusion
• Strictly follow the Aerial Rescue Decision Making Flowchart. It will help you come to the safest and best conclusion for aerial rescues.
• No two aerial rescue situations will ever be exactly alike. Therefore, be familiar with all the possibilities to react appropriately. Discuss rescue procedures and practice them regularly so reactions become automatic.
• The need for an aerial rescue may not come to your attention by a call from the victim. Therefore, crew members should make frequent visual and verbal checks on each other. The person may be unconscious because of electric contact and not able to sound an alarm.
• On the Pre-Job Brief document who is certified and make sure that your crew is prepared for the possibility of an aerial rescue.
• Remember the Cardinal Rule of Aerial Rescue: The rescuer must not become a victim when conducting an actual or practice aerial rescue.
Introduction to Aerial Rescue
• Most tree work is done high above the ground, using cutting tools and sometimes close to energized electrical conductors. Under these circumstances, an emergency could develop that would require an immediate aerial rescue.
• The knowledge and skills needed to rescue an injured tree worker are unique to the tree care industry.
• The victim is often high above the ground, inaccessible to emergency vehicles and medical personnel.
• A victim’s chances of survival may be dependent on the ability of fellow workers to safely and quickly lower the victim to the ground.
• All Energy Group employees MUST be trained and certified in aerial rescue techniques before attempting an aerial rescue.
Never attempt an aerial rescue unless you are trained and certified to perform aerial rescues, are sure that a rescue should be performed and that it can be done safely. Cardinal Rule of Aerial Rescue: The rescuer must not become a victim when conducting an actual or practice aerial rescue.
Scenarios That May Require Aerial Rescue
• One reason for an aerial rescue could be the climber’s exposure to electrical power lines. The injury can vary in severity, from minor burns to cardiac arrest. Whatever the situation, it is important for the rescuer to be aware of the high degree of risk of the rescuer also getting exposed to the hazard of electrical shock. Think before you act. Never attempt a rescue in a tree with direct exposure to power lines. Follow the Aerial Rescue Decision Flow Chart process.
• Another reason for an aerial rescue may be that the climber is pinned, pinched or struck by a tree limb.
• An aerial lift operator or a climber may be experiencing an equipment problem that requires aerial rescue.
• An aerial lift operator or a climber may have cut themselves with the chainsaw or handsaw and may need an aerial rescue.
• A climber may have fallen and may be unconscious and stranded or tangled on a branch of the tree
In ALL cases where an aerial rescue may be required, Energy Group employees must follow the Aerial Rescue Decision Flowchart defined below to determine how to proceed.
Aerial Rescue Decision Flowchart
Strictly follow the defined steps for Aerial Rescue decision making in the flowchart below:
1. Identify if a victim needs to be rescued. If the person is unconscious or injured and cannot get to the ground on their own, then a recue is needed. Assess the situation from the ground by talking to the ground crew about what happened and if possible, talk to the person that needs aerial rescue to assess their injuries.
2. Decision – Is there an electrical hazard present? If yes, immediately go to step 4. Approach the job site area carefully to look for hazards by walking all the way around the job site to verify the information about what caused the need for aerial rescue.
3. If a rescue is needed, then call 911 and let the dispatch person know that you have a person injured while working in a tree, pin-point the location and if electrical power lines are involved in the accident. If cell phone service is not available on the job site, then assign a person in the crew to go to an area that has cell service and call 911 as soon as possible and report the location of the aerial rescue needed, while the potential aerial rescuer remains at the job site.
4. If an electrical hazard is present, you must call the utility and then call 911 to report the accident.
5. Determine if the electrical hazard can be avoided, eliminated or controlled. If the electrical hazard can be managed, then go to step 6. If the electrical hazard cannot be managed, then stop and secure the area, and wait for EMS or fire rescue professionals. 6. Take steps to manage the electrical hazard or other hazards in the area.
7. Determine if the rescue can be performed without any undue risk to the rescuers or others. If not, then secure the area and wait for EMS or fire rescue professionals. If a rescue can be performed safely, then go to step 8.
8. Determine if the victim is conscious and responsive to your questions. If the victim is unconscious, then go to step 9. If the victim is conscious and responsive, then go to step 10.
9. Climb the tree or use another bucket truck lift to get near the victim and further assess the condition.
10. Talk to the victim and determine what is the best rescue method. Determine if there is any immediate danger or health risk to the victim. If there is immediate danger or health risk, then go to step 12.
11. When you have reached the victim, assess the victim’s breathing, pulse or heart rate, if bleeding can be stopped, or if bones may be broken. If no bones or broken and the victim can be safely rescued, go to step 14.
12. If a serious injury may have occurred to the victim’s spine or neck, then donot move the victim.
13. Secure the victim in place as best as possible and wait for EMT or fire rescue professionals. Attend to the victim’s needs if bleeding and it can be stopped.
14. Perform the rescue and lower the victim to the ground.
15. Administer first aid and/or CPR if needed while waiting for EMS or fire rescue professionals.
16. Secure the area and wait for EMS or fire rescue professionals.
See Exhibit: Aerial Rescue Flowchart for a 1-page visual diagram of the decision process
Aerial Rescue Preparedness
• Make sure that you have an aerial rescue kit available (typically a smaller package of basic first aid supplies that a rescue climber or aerial lift operator can bring up to the victim).
• Make sure that cell phone service is available, or if not then make sure the crew knows the closest location where cell service is available.
• Get as many of the crew members certified in aerial rescue as possible to increase the odds of having trained and certified rescuers nearby to quickly assess the situation.
• All certified aerial rescuers will need to have access to their own climbing gear in case a aerial lift device is not available in the area.
Certified Aerial Rescue Techniques
Two Person Rescue Method
• Before moving the victim, the rescuer will need to verify if the victim is conscious, check breathing, pulse, and determine if the victim has broken bones. Never move a victim that has severe neck or spine injuries as moving the victim may cause further damage or paralysis. If the person has severe neck or spine injuries, then attend to the victim in the tree and wait for EMS to support with more advanced equipment to lower the victim. If the victim has severe bleeding, then the rescuer should use BBP protective gloves and try to stop bleeding with a bandage and tourniquet before lowering the victim.
• Two-person rescue is preferred when possible as it allows for the most support for the victim on the descent.
• The victim will need to be released from their hitch to allow a ground person to safely lower them to the ground. However, before being released, the victim's rope end that hangs to the ground must be secured around a tree and also held by the ground person. The victim's climbing rope can then be untied at the hitch or cut between the victim's saddle and the hitch. When cutting a rope, only do this as a last resort and verify that the victim is securely tethered with a lanyard to the climber rescuer’s life support system as backup support before making the cut.
• To help identify the rope to be cut, climbers should tie a figure "8" knot in the section of rope between your saddle and your hitch as well as the one on the end of your rope, beyond the hitch (if using a Blake’s hitch for example). In an emergency, this will help a rescuer confidently identify where to make the cut after confirming that the victim is tethered to the rescuer’s life support system. The figure 8 knot also makes the rope easier visually to identify where to cut and may be cut with a pole pruner because the pruner can be worked against the topside of the figure 8 knot. Braided rope, however, may be extremely difficult to cut with a pole pruner and may require the use of a pocketknife.
• When there are two rescuers available, after the rescue climber has tethered the victim with a lanyard to their life support system and after the victim is free from the tree, one rescuer on the ground lowers the victim slowly using the victim’s life support system, while the other rescuer in the tree guides the victim down using the rescuer’s life support system thereby protecting the victim from hitting the tree on the descent. The guiding rescuer descends on a separate life support system that is tethered with a lanyard between the saddle of the climber rescuer to the victim’s saddle as backup support. The ground person lowering the victim needs to coordinate the pace of lowering with the climber rescuer to match the pace of descent.
One Person Double Life Support Rescue Method
• Before moving the victim, the rescuer will need to verify if the victim is conscious, check breathing, pulse, and determine if the victim has broken bones. Never move a victim that has severe neck or spine injuries as moving the victim may cause further damage or paralysis. If the person has severe neck or spine injuries, then attend to the victim in the tree and wait for EMS to support with more advanced equipment to lower the victim. If the victim has severe bleeding, then the rescuer should use BBP protective gloves and try to stop bleeding with a bandage and tourniquet before lowering the victim.
• This is the preferred method of rescue for a single rescuer situation where the victim’s rope and climbing system remains safe and usable.
• To perform this rescue, the climber rescuer will climb the tree and get near the victim.
• Upon reaching the victim, reset your life support line roughly above the victim to allow for a parallel descent of the rescuer and the victim’s life support lines. The rescue climber should try not to use the same crotch that the victim’s life support is tied into as it may tangle ropes or cause too much stress on the crotch of the tree and cause catastrophic failure.
• The climber rescuer will lower themselves on their hitch and life support system while simultaneously lowering the victim on the victim's hitch and life support system. Since both hands are busy working both knots, you must rely on your feet for maneuvering. You may wrap your lanyard or buck-strap around the victim and secure it back to your saddle to keep the victim positioned close to the rescuer. When moving to clear a limb, the victim follows, as if you were one climber.
One Person Rescuer’s Life Support Method
• Before moving the victim, the rescuer will need to verify if the victim is conscious, check breathing, pulse, and determine if the victim has broken bones. Never move a victim that has severe neck or spine injuries as moving the victim may cause further damage or paralysis. If the person has severe neck or spine injuries, then attend to the victim in the tree and wait for EMS to support with more advanced equipment to lower the victim. If the victim has severe bleeding, then the rescuer should use BBP protective gloves and try to stop bleeding with a bandage and tourniquet before lowering the victim.
• If only one rescuer is available, the climber rescuer must first tie off the victim's rope end that hangs to the ground either in the tree to a branch, or before climbing the tree. After climbing the tree, the rescuer transfers the victim to the rescuer’s life support system by straddling the victim and securing the climber rescuer’s saddle directly to the victim’s saddle and then either unties the victim’s hitch or cuts the victim’s rope between the saddle and the hitch.
• Then, the rescuer descends the tree with the victim slowly as the extra weight of the victim will dramatically affect the rescuer’s hitch performance in the decent. In this case, the victim would not be guided down and may hit the tree or bump against branches on the decent as the rescuer is focused on controlling the hitch for a smooth decent and will not be able to reposition the victim. This could be a disadvantage, especially if the victim were unconscious and hanging upside down. Other methods may be more desirable when only one rescuer is available and greater control is needed due to a complicated decent.
One Person Rescuer Life Support Noose Rescue Method
• Before moving the victim, the rescuer will need to verify if the victim is conscious, check breathing, pulse, and determine if the victim has broken bones. Never move a victim that has severe neck or spine injuries as moving the victim may cause further damage or paralysis. If the person has severe neck or spine injuries, then attend to the victim in the tree and wait for EMS to support with more advanced equipment to lower the victim. If the victim has severe bleeding, then the rescuer should use BBP protective gloves and try to stop bleeding with a bandage and tourniquet before lowering the victim. • Similar to the One Person Rescuer’s Life Support Method, climber rescuer must first tie off the victim's rope end that hangs to the ground either in the tree to a branch, or before climbing the tree.
• This rescue is may be appropriate when the victim's saddle is unusable and the victim cannot be transferred easily to the rescuer’s life support system. This method should be used only as a last resort if other methods are not suitable.
• Climb the tree and when the rescue climber reaches the victim, extend your lanyard or buck-strap to its full length and wrap it around the victim, under the arms, and secure the end of the lanyard back on to itself in front of the victim like a noose that tightens when weight is applied. The other end of the safety strap or buck strap is then secured to the rescuer’s "D" ring. Now the victim can be suspended directly beneath the rescuer in a vertical position. The rescuer can descend with the victim, carefully guiding the victim to the ground.
Aerial Rescue Pulley or Rigging Rescue Method
• Before moving the victim, the rescuer will need to verify if the victim is conscious, check breathing, pulse, and determine if the victim has broken bones. Never move a victim that has severe neck or spine injuries as moving the victim may cause further damage or paralysis. If the person has severe neck or spine injuries, then attend to the victim in the tree and wait for EMS to support with more advanced equipment to lower the victim. If the victim has severe bleeding, then the rescuer should use BBP protective gloves and try to stop bleeding with a bandage and tourniquet before lowering the victim.
• This aerial rescue method uses a pulley or rigging device or natural crotch above the victim and rope to lower the victim to the ground.
• When the rescue climber has ascended the tree and is in a position near the victim, they will need to set the pulley or steel ring or rigging device or a natural crotch above the victim. Then the second climbing rope is placed through the pulley, rigging device or crotch and pulled through and secured to the saddle of the victim.
• The lower end of the installed second climbing rope will need to be secured to the base of the tree as backup safety support and a ground person will control the rope on a rigging descent to lower the victim safely to the ground.
• Before lowering the victim, the rescue climber will then need to disconnect the victim from their original climbing rope and system by untying the hitch or cutting the rope between the victim’s saddle and hitch. Before cutting the rope the rescue climber should attached their lanyard to the victim’s saddle as backup safety support.
Lower Controls Aerial Lift Rescue Method
Special procedures are necessary to lower the boom and perform an aerial rescue when a worker in an aerial lift is seriously injured.
• An aerial lift or any other piece of equipment contacting an energized conductor, may become energized. Any rescue attempt must consider this. At no time should any worker standing on the ground touch the equipment during an electrical emergency, as electric shock could result.
• The ground around an energized vehicle may also be energized, especially in the area of the outriggers. When walking in an area where the ground may be electrically charged because of aerial lift and conductor contact, use short or "shuffle" steps to prevent "bridging" two areas of different electrical potential which could shock you.
• If the truck and boom are verified to not be energized, then the rescuer can operate the lower controls to lower the victim down to the ground.
Second Lift Aerial Lift Rescue Method
Special procedures are necessary to lower the boom and perform an aerial rescue when a worker in an aerial lift is seriously injured.
• This method utilizes a second truck with a boom lift to save the victim by removing them from their lift bucket and bringing the victim down using the rescuer’s lift bucket.
• Before moving the victim, the rescuer will need to verify if the victim is conscious, check breathing, pulse, and determine if the victim has broken bones. Never move a victim that has severe neck or spine injuries as moving the victim may cause further damage or paralysis. If the person has severe neck or spine injuries, then attend to the victim in the tree and wait for EMS to support with more advanced equipment to lower the victim. If the victim has severe bleeding, then the rescuer should use BBP protective gloves and try to stop bleeding with a bandage and tourniquet before lowering the victim.
• An aerial lift or any other piece of equipment contacting an energized conductor, may become energized. Any rescue attempt must consider this. At no time should any worker standing on the ground touch the equipment during an electrical emergency, as electric shock could result.
• The ground around an energized vehicle may also be energized, especially in the area of the outriggers. When walking in an area where the ground may be electrically charged because of aerial lift and conductor contact, use short or "shuffle" steps to prevent "bridging" two areas of different electrical potential which could shock you.
• If the truck and boom are verified to not be energized, then the rescuer can maneuver their truck and boom lift bucket near the victim.
• The rescuer will need to bring a lanyard to secure the victim temporarily to the rescuer’s bucket, then reach into the victim’s bucket and unhitch their saddle from the victim’s bucket.
• The rescuer will need to bring the victim into their bucket and then lower the bucket to the ground or top of the truck to allow EMS to gain access to the victim.
Aerial Rescue Conclusion
• Strictly follow the Aerial Rescue Decision Making Flowchart. It will help you come to the safest and best conclusion for aerial rescues.
• No two aerial rescue situations will ever be exactly alike. Therefore, be familiar with all the possibilities to react appropriately. Discuss rescue procedures and practice them regularly so reactions become automatic.
• The need for an aerial rescue may not come to your attention by a call from the victim. Therefore, crew members should make frequent visual and verbal checks on each other. The person may be unconscious because of electric contact and not able to sound an alarm.
• On the Pre-Job Brief document who is certified and make sure that your crew is prepared for the possibility of an aerial rescue.
• Remember the Cardinal Rule of Aerial Rescue: The rescuer must not become a victim when conducting an actual or practice aerial rescue.
