AR Training scenarios???

[BrendanG]

Hello all, I work for a tree company with about 20 climbers in our office, every 3 months we carry out a formal AR training, rescues include pole, open canopy and bucket. We try to keep it fresh and change the scenarios around each time but feel like it can get a little repetitive, any one got any interesting ideas on anything new? Any ideas would be welcomed?

Thanks, Brendan.

 

[oldoakman]

I always suggest hanging a chainsaw on the dummy for comp scenarios and most of the time I get voted down. I did this once at the Georgia Arborist Association comp and it proved to be a bit of a challenge. Some guys left the saw attached to the dummy, some transferred it to their saddle and some hung it from a branch at the site where the dummy was positioned in the tree. It is important to remove the chain though.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Something that has always made me cringe at AR events is how poorly the victim is treated. They get whacked around like a log!!!

Stress how important real first aid skills are to a good rescue component. Make it more than just a grab and lower. Do an assessment and maybe dressings in the tree.

Look at how strong a TIP might be. There seems to be a time in every rescue where the climber and rescuer are both on the same TIP. Climbers might be unlikely to consider the double loading and then add in some risk factor too. Two, 200# climbers with a little bouncing is going to create some attenttion getting loads on a TIP

 

[the.schultz.effect]

Hello all, I work for a tree company with about 20 climbers in our office, every 3 months we carry out a formal AR training, rescues include pole, open canopy and bucket. We try to keep it fresh and change the scenarios around each time but feel like it can get a little repetitive, any one got any interesting ideas on anything new? Any ideas would be welcomed?

Thanks, Brendan.

i got two for you. guy is candle stick in the bucket cutting with the 44, follows thru with the cut too much and takes out the hydraulic line, now he's stuck up there w/ no lowering system.

guy is climbing SRT and has redirected himself into no man's land to do tip work, got his lanyard on when a branch with an unseen defect breaks underneath him, when he drops into his gear he catches a branch to the chin rendering him unconscious and in need of stitches, he's really out there so you can't double load his line or the crotches he's redirected thru

 

[CutHighnLetFly]

Hey man, something new I recently learned in regards to TCIAs aerial rescue as far as dealing with a bucket op rescue around power lines : no one is to put themselves at risk by approaching a "hot" truck to move the ground controls, even using "hot sticks".
And in regards to injuries climbers, the TCIA rescue protocol is pretty much to only assess the victim until EMT s arrive. Only of the victim os unconscious or not breathing do you attempt to lower the victim (that part im actually not 100% about the exact wording).
It seems kinda crazy to me, but I'm no EMT. As I understand it paet of these changes has to do with the amount of recorded injuries during aerial rescue training and scenarios where people became more injured being rescued, then put on the ground, then handles again by EMTs.

If people have more questions about what I just said I'll look up the wording in my EHAP manual and be more clear, asy words can be confusing at times I'm sure

 

[mrtree]

What about a real 200 pound rescue randy suspended on a spar pole by a lanyard alone (climbing line has been cut) and he is also gaffed out and spun so that body is below the lanyard.

What about a break out where the limb is suspended by the lanyard.

What about an electrocution scenario with the utility company where your mayday call is made and confirmation of de-engerization occurs prior to any rescue.

The issue I see with most AR scenarios are they are too low, too simple and not realistic. Make them so there is height to work with, make them complicated so there is confusion, and make them a learning experience.

The chainsaw is an excellent idea as this is extremely likely in a real situation.

 

[Waldo]

What about a real 200 pound rescue randy suspended on a spar pole by a lanyard alone (climbing line has been cut) and he is also gaffed out and spun so that body is below the lanyard.

What about a break out where the limb is suspended by the lanyard.

What about an electrocution scenario with the utility company where your mayday call is made and confirmation of de-engerization occurs prior to any rescue.

The issue I see with most AR scenarios are they are too low, too simple and not realistic. Make them so there is height to work with, make them complicated so there is confusion, and make them a learning experience.

The chainsaw is an excellent idea as this is extremely likely in a real situation.

You are right, the AR's in the comps are not realistic. There is simply not enough time or climbers with the proper training to do a realistic AR scenario. I have been the head judge for the PNW AR for the past couple years now. What I have learned is that we are doing a competition first, not an aerial rescue. There does need to be some gaming and showmanship for the crowd to be engaged. The victim does need to be placed in such a way that climbers can get to them in a reasonable amount of time.
What I have always thought would be cool is a Masters Challenge AR. The only thing you would know coming into the climb is what tree it is in. So some of those scenarios that you all have mentioned, could not be done with a 5 min time limit. But with a 15 or 20 min limit, imagine the quality of rescue you would be able to perform! You would have enough time to do proper first aid, have a conversation with EMS as they arrive on scene, set up a lowerable system from the ground. Imagine the innovation you would see from in the tree as climbers think through the puzzle.
A potential scenario could be: no access line in the tree, climber was working above their anchor, is struck by a falling branch, falls into neighboring branch union level with tie in.

That would be fun.

 

[JustinK]

Hello all, I work for a tree company with about 20 climbers in our office, every 3 months we carry out a formal AR training, rescues include pole, open canopy and bucket. We try to keep it fresh and change the scenarios around each time but feel like it can get a little repetitive, any one got any interesting ideas on anything new? Any ideas would be welcomed?

Thanks, Brendan.

I'm not sure what it's like at the home office but I know up here at CLT shop it's ran through the same ole Sycamore out front. Talk to Jonathan and Alex about switching it up for us. Admittedly, I've never done it since being hired on by AG, but I've seen the tree and was told that's where it takes place. Easy stuff.

I'd like to get involved if you can convince our guys to shake it up more too.

 

[mrtree]

I am not suggesting AR for competitions I am suggesting AR for a company to do with workers. It has to be realistic. If you are in massive conifers, or 150 foot trees that is a lot different than climbing 50 to 70 foot Manitoba maples. If you climb DRT that is different than SRT. Creating spar poles out of white pines is a lot different than pruning.

What I am suggesting is use a rescue randy, not a live person and create a situation that is realistic for your company.

In order to show due-diligence you must do things that replicate your work.