Lotsa good stuff here fellas. No lines in the sand though OK? Were all on the same team, if we have different opinions, GREAT!
Mahk, I checked out Tree Worker Safety CD, it's pretty good-I'd recommend it for any tree company safety program. The flowchart you mentioned flows well due to it's interactive format although a little cautious- most of the final answers are "Wait! Do nothing until EMT's arrive". That's sound advice for crewmembers inexperienced with rescue but I'd like to think my groundie could do something in those first few critical moments. I know I know- don't become a second victim-most important. I've been doing alot of research and the picture I'm getting is that aerial incidents come in three sizes-benign(no injury, just stupidly stuck), extreme life threatening injury, and instant death. It's in the middle category where adequate training could help save some lives.
As for the list, I would prefer not to think of it as an entity in itself but a product of it's content. So here goes:
Hurt hands are off- I think no matter how bad froze or burnt or broken my hands are I could still get to the ground.
Beard in hitch can go under Hitch Trouble, so tophopper, how did the guy get down? I caught a glove in my hitch once so bad I had to untie it, could have been bad on a straight down rapel.
How about Chainsaw Cut by itself? I think if I was ever cut bad the first thing I'd do is get to the ground.
Electricity appears to be the worst thing plaguing our industry, even worse than falling or chipper death. Although it's usually an instant killer some people do live after electrocution, but only if they recieve treatment immediately. (got AEDs?)
Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now, over and out.
