Posted By Stephen Sherratt
Firstly may I state that I have been well supported by our directors since 2005 in totally funding the overhaul of our harness use by introducing competent inspection, User and rescue training, Purchase of suitable rescue equipment, Fitting Suspension Safety Straps and Training in their use.
I was troubled when one of our first Aiders on returning from his renewal alerted me to the following:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/harness.htm

And what do we think about the response at:

http://www.suspensiontrauma.info/faq/uk-hse.php

Unfortunately, I have discovered amongst some First Aid Training Providers they are using the phrase “Urban Myth” to describe Suspension Truma or Pre – Syncopal or just plain Orthostatic intolerance.

Any comments?

Steve

Posted By Stephen Sherratt
Thanks Ken I totally agree
Steve

Posted By A Campbell
You will proberly find that a lot of their way of thinking may have been born out of the problems encountered when being rescued from sea.

With the ... pooling effect of floating at sea rescue was sometimes periless for the person being rescued due to being suddenly being lifted out of the water... sub sequence of blood rushing downwards with toxins etc in the ingredients led to fatal rescue attempts. That was until they developed systems for scooping on semi lateral position instead of near vertical.

Posted By ianmilne69
I previously had several years experience using harnesses for entry/exit during tank cleaning. Suspension trauma is real and the people on teh job need to know about it.

At a recent (okay, it was last year maybe), we had a reminder pep talk at the Aberdeen (NoS) branch and I developed a slideshow using that info and my own research via websites.

I was alarmed that people have died because emergency personnel have rescued people in similar circumstances and lifted them up, which released the toxic blood to heart 'n' head - you do now. Even in these circumstances, I still fully support any emergency services person, who put their lives in danger for others and look down on those who keep trying to sue them, for doing their job and bests.

Posted By nheathsiae
Agree with all previous posters suspension trauma, as we believe the experts is very real, so our response is, Working at Heights Rescue.

The "Suspension Trauma" website is very well known, but the biggest issue is RESCUE.

As for the First Aid aspect, can only repeat, treat as crush injury. It is what all the major UK WAH and Rescue companies are currently teaching.

OK, real life, you have a guy in "suspension", hanging in his harness from a fixed structure. You are told in all the training "we" have 20 mins to get him down!!!

OK, there is a second person above the suspendee, WITH a rescue kit , I mean above the suspendee, of course there is. All rescue is DOWN to the ground.

You now deploy a single rope descending device, nobody is allowed to use rope access without a backup rope (two ropes) but we now commit two people to a single rope, but this is an emergency.

Now the FUN part, you commit yourself or another fully trained person, to descend to the "suspendee", YOU HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE MAIN ATTACHMENT POINTS, I HOPE FOR YOUR RESCUE KIT!!, on a single rope, attach yourself to them, cut their suspension ropes/lanyards away, now with their "dead" weight fully on you, descend to the ground. Sounds easy, try it on a mobile phone mast with lots of "sticking" out metal work.

Forgot to add while doing all of this you have phoned 999!!!

In training we use "dummies" the actual rescue process is too hazardous for a "live" person.

All in 20 minutes? I tried to write a risk assessment for Rescue for WAH, it was too hazardous. Best left to to "999" boys, greatest rescpect for them and have been on many courses with them!!

E-mail me if you like, I re-do my WAH Rescue next week.

Nick

Posted By Phil
Suspension straps are only usefull in the conscious casualty unfortunately. Its the unconscious casualty that will suffer if suspended.

Phil

Posted By Phil
Couldnt agree more Steve.
Its encouraging that people in the industry are actually compiling rescue plans etc.
I know many firms who still go down the dial 999 route though !!!