E-MAG 32

ACCESS
&RESCUE
NEW YEAR 2016

c o v e r i n g T E C H N I C A L R E S C U E , I N T E R N AT I O N A L S A R & A R B C L I M B E R magazines

We rarely work in the office or use the

landline phone so dont expect an answer.
Best means of communication is email
because with smart phones and iPads
these are monitored regularly :

[email protected]
[email protected]
COVER PHOTO: Josh Obers

VIEWS EXPRESSED IN ARTICLES & PRODUCT INFORMATION ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF
TECHNICAL RESCUE and ARBCLIMBER magazines

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GEAR REVIEWs by Gear Flogger:

EDITOR'S
blub
EMag32

Fiskars Splitting Axe

Stearns Hybrid PFD
LoopRope TieDowns
EXTRICATION: TNT Electric hydraulics
ROPE STUFF: CMC ConSpace Pulleys
MAG STUFF: Rescue & Arborism,
SAFETY NOTICE: Weaver Cougar Harness
SAFETY NOTICE: Buckingham Ox Block Pulley
SAFETY NOTICE: Heightec/PMI D42 Chest Ascender
ROPE STUFF: Petzl New for 2016
MED STUFF: NEW CPR Guidelines
KNOTS: Michoacan Hitch
ARB/ROPE STUFF: Petzl MicroTraxion Usage Note
New Petzl Microeverything else
TACTICAL/PPE: Black DyneemaIntelligent Clothing
BROCHURE STAND: brochures & catalogues
MAG INFO: Back Issues
SAR: RAF SAR  End of an Era AQUATIC STUFF
MAG INFO: Gear Reviews Multitools Index

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all.

As we start 2016 our thoughts are with the vast numbers
affected by storms, tornadoes and flooding at unprecedented
levels particularly in the US, Europe and the UK. Seldom have we
seen simultaneous deployment of so many water rescue assets but
our great mate, Jim Segerstrom would be pleased to see how well
his water rescue legacy has developed and how that is now helping
so many. Meanwhile, in Oz, an early start to the bush fire season
doesnt bode well. Makes our own current office-flooding and last
years cyber problems seem insignificant in comparison but we
nevertheless owe a huge thanks to all the companies and subscribers who stuck with us through a very trying year or so. We
now have no less than three magazines completed and awaiting
print, unfortunately were queued up behind the original Technical
Rescue issue 67 which never managed to beat the Xmas rush. So,
just like a London bus, none for ages and then there will be three
all in a row. Youll notice in this Emag and on the websites, front
covers from issues yet to print which at least shows a degree of
editorial organisation that we havent had for years. Were not
quite out of the woods yet with current office flooding to deal with
and significant financial losses from last year to recoup but with
magazines in the can and a list of articles in progress as long as
your arm, 2016 looks unusually organised. Stay safe in those storm
areas and lets hope that 2016 brings better days.
Cheers ADE SCOTT

SUBSCRIBE

ur cover this issue is a an homage

to the latest version of the CMC
MPD which now sees it EN accredited - same piece of kit but with the magic
letters CE etched on it. This is of no consequence to US readers whatsoever since
you cant even buy
the CE marked
version but
the european
requirement for
CE
marked equipment meant that
teams, agencies and even
arborist companies were
loathe to take on non-CE
marked equipment. It meant
they had to write their
own risk assessment so
this simple addition to the
MPDs livery opens up a
whole new market for it. Weve
been championing the MPD since its introduction several years ago and in the past year have been
subjecting one to the abuse of lowering lumps of tree on it.
Weve even had it on the cover of the first Emag in this latest version of the Emag. In that case it was in tree rigging mode. Weve

ON THE COVER

got a feature in next years

issue 69 of Technical
Rescue (cover left) and
ArbClimber issue 8.
The images weve used
on this Emag and on
the cover of issue 69
have been specially
shot for us by Josh
Obers of CMC
Rescue and they
shortlisted the
Cover 69 shot as
their favourite.
We actually
preferred a different
shot but the beauty of this Emag is
that nothing needs to go to waste anymore
and we can use more great shots that might otherwise
end up on the cutting room floor. Enter the cover of Emag 32 with
the MPD in rescue lowering mode. Look, we even put the CMC ad
below so you dont have to go far to check out more details..........
the cost of the US or NFPA version is not insignificant at $725 but
it is a truly multi-functional and supremely well made piece of kit.
Both the CE and NFPA versions for 11mm and 13mm-1/2 rope
respectively weigh the same at 1.2 kg so see if you can spot the
difference?

TECHNICALRESCUE and/or ARBCLIMBER magazines

Due to some outrageous mailing charges we necessarily have

two different rates, one for the USA and Canada and one for
the UK/Europe/Rest of the world. Oz and NZ are a particular
problem for us as we actually make a loss in mailing magazines
but havent had the heart to increase your subscription costs.
Were hoping some miracle cure will present itself for
Australasian subscriptions. Digital versions have no mailing
cost obviously so are charged at $10 and $17.50 US Dollars
equivalent to about 6 for 4 issues or 11 for 8 issues

HARD COPY 4 issues

GBP

20.
$20.

UK, Europe, Oz & Rest of World

US

HARD COPY 8 issues:

US

USA & Canada

DIGITAL COPY 4 issues

$10.
$17.50
US

US

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

UK & Rest of World

HARD COPY SUBSCRIPTION INCLUDES DIGITAL

SUBSCRIPTION FREE OF CHARGE. (by request)

and let us know how many issues, whether print or digital-only

and your mailing address and well do the rest.

35.
$35.

GBP

If you wish to subscribe simply email us at:

[email protected] for TECHNICAL RESCUE magazine
or
[email protected] for ARB CLIMBER magazine

USA & Canada ...........

UK, US & worldwide

UK, US & worldwide

www.trescue.com

www.ArbClimber.com

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

also easily purchased in or from Europe, Australasia and Africa

by

US GEAR REVIEWS

Ken Osterkamp aka GEAR FLOGGER

Fiskars X275 Splitting Axe

In some places (hello Alaska! Woot woot!) winter ain't coming, it's here. That means the usual
litany of preparation, including splitting firewood, a privilege with the added benefit of the possibility of self-inflicted grievous bodily harm. To make it safe get a well-designed splitting axe like
the Fiskars X27. Available in four lengths from 17 inch hatchet to the most efficient and effective
36 incher - seriously, go big or go home - the X27 makes short shrift of that cord of hardwood
that's been staring you down all summer.
Take off the included handy
blade guard with built-in handle and heft the X27 to feel the
quality. The hardened forged-steel head has most of the
weight while the synthetic handle absorbs vibration better for more comfort during extended
wood splitting sessions. It's also tougher than nails; it's really hard to even chip the X27, despite
taking quite a few strikes to work out the kinks in our technique. The X27 has a "low friction
head" whatever that entails, but we can report it doesn't stick much at all. That makes a big difference over the course of hundreds of swings on a winter morn. Really, the X27 is all you could
possibly want in a splitting axe, complete with lifetime warranty.
$54.97 on Amazon

Stearns Hybrid PFD

If you're heading out on the water a personal flotation device AKA life vest AKA life jacket AKA
Mae West is mandatory. For most of us a Type III, technically a "flotation aid," will be a reasonable compromise between security and mobility. This is not the kind of thing you want to get
from a generic label, and no brand is more trusted to get wet than Stearns.
Stearns makes life jackets for military, industrial and recreational users, and their Hybrid Fishing
and Paddling vest is a hands-down winner. Also sold under the Coleman brand, the Hybrid vest is
great for medium to long distance paddling where you want a comfortable cut and also a bunch
of storage options, and oh yeah maybe you want to do a little fishing along the way.
The Hybrid is a foam vest, bulkier than inflatable models but less expensive and absolutely reliable, even if you're more unconscious than usual. It's cut high in the back for comfort in the
cockpit, and the design also aids in maintaining a face-up posture in the water should it come to
that. There are seven pockets on the front of the vest: on the right side a medium open mesh
and a small zipped; on the left side another medium open mesh and a medium zipped; and in
the middle a large flip-down "work station" suitable for working up flies and hooks, and on the
outside of that two small open mesh pockets.
Beyond the pockets there are multiple fabric loops to clip things to, and even a key ring on a
spring cord on the right shoulder for fishing pliers, a whistle or general retainer use for things
that shouldn't go overboard. It's a plethora of pockets that's useful not just for fishing gear but
for safety and survival materials (bear spray on the Kenai!, comfort items or anything else you
can think of. The Hybrid is a truly versatile vest, and it just gets better: the fit can be dialed in
from small to large, and it wears all day comfortably. All of this, and a price that won't break the
bank. Without a doubt, the Stearns Hybrid vest is our go-to for water safety. $62.18 on Amazon

LoopRope Tie-Downs
You know what I appreciate? Brevity. Specifically, an economy of words in product names. Imagine
my relief at discovering LoopRope, about as simple as it gets. And simplicity, it turns out, is the
most attractive quality of LoopRope.I admit, initially I thought "hey that's cool for people who
don't know their knots and rigging," but I soon found myself appreciating the infinite adjustability
of LoopRope for securing my crap valuable stuff in all kinds of places: on a kayak, in the back of a
vehicle, basically anywhere you want something that's likely to move to not do so.
LoopRope is essentially an etrier made out of bungee cord. The cool part is that the combination
of stretch and the small loops give you an infinitely adjustable cord for securing just about anything. See www.looprope.com for examples; I particularly liked the fishing poles on the ceiling of a
vehicle. For me, quickly securing loads in the back of a compact SUV (Ford Escape), e.g. jumpstarter, propane tank, etc., is quicker and easier with the LoopRope that now lives there permanently. The one unknown is strength, both for the cord and the 'biners; it's oddly hard to find out
just how strong a given bungee cord is, but if you're not using it for climbing (you shouldn't be!) or
another mission-critical application, LoopRope provides a very convenient way to quickly secure
and release loads across a wide array of shapes and sizes. $31.92 for a 5' 2-pack at Amazon

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

www.arbclimber.com

EXTRICATION STUFF

Latest ElectricHydraulic Tools

[ED: battery powered rescue tools
is another of our pet subjects ever
since we first used the old Junkers battery-powered cutter
and spreader from Germany and and that venerable work-horse
the Powerhawk from the US. Battery technology has moved on
and we now have high quality options from the likes of Holmatro,
Lukas and Weber but design of the actual tools seems to have
settled or perhaps stagnated to some extent on the front end
while different battery alternatives are sought. The newest additions to this genre are the TNT Storm series tools opting for the
Lukas-like long but slim approach. Longer tools are harder to
manoeuvre in tight spaces but are a familiar and proven design.]

ROPE STUFF

CMC

EW FALL PROTECTION COMFORT HARNESSES

Capital Safety, the global leader in fall protection has launched their
new DBI-SALA Deltan normal work pace and not be interrupted
with constant lock ups.

ConSpace
Rescue
Pulleys
www.capitalsafety.com

The design of CMCs all-new

CSR2 (Confined Space Rescue)
Pulley is stronger yet lighter and
incorporates 7/16 in (11 mm) to
1/2 in (13 mm) lifeline. Ideal for
industrial applications as well as
many rescue operations, the CSR2
uses our proprietary, patented locking system, which eliminates a
toothed cam or Prusik so it can be easily and safely released while under load. An
integral thrust-bearing swivel reduces torque by aligning
the pulley with the load, thereby increasing efficiency
and safety. Its larger size allows for the easy application of rescue-size carabiners.
Machined from a solid block of aircraft-grade aluminum, the CSR2 features a high-strength aluminum
side plate, sealed bearings and anodized aluminum
sheaves. The side becket location allows for maximum lift
height and full retraction of the system, and a removable
becket cover facilitates changing out lifeline with sewn terminations.

Designed to be lighter, quieter in operation, faster acting and

more powerful than any battery powered hydraulics available,
the STORM Series represents the newest generation of battery
powered rescue tools.
ESLC29 Cutter
This battery powered cutter has a max. working pressure of 724
Bar and a max. blade opening of 203mm. Weighing just 22.5Kg,
the ESLC29 has a cutting force of up to 1,197KN.
ESL24 Spreader
This battery powered spreader has a max. working pressure of
724 Bar and a max. spreading distance of 610mm. Weighing just
19.6Kg, the ESL24 has a spreading force of up to 155KN and a
max. pulling force of 131KN.

All-new stronger, lighter-weight

design
Compatible with 11-13 mm rope
Meets NFPA 1983 (2012 ED)
General Use
CSR2 Pulley - MBS 46 kN
(10,341 lbf)
CSR2 Double Pulley MBS 51 kN (11,465 lbf)
Machined from solid block
of aircraft-grade aluminum
Made in USA

www.tntrescue.com
www.rescuetools.co.uk
www.cmcrescue.com
www.trescue.com

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

MAG STUFF

RESCUE &

ARBORISM
whats the connection?
F

irst let me mention, before you write in, that arborism is a

word I made up to encompass all arborist activities. This
saves us having to allocate even more space to titles. Im
hoping it will catch on because its a far more sensible new word
than shizzle, yep, shizzle, look it up, its in the 2015 Oxford
English Dictionary. The links between the two disciplines are quite
extensive and from a skill-set point of view we have mentioned
this several times over the past 25 years. But it has never been
quite as apparent as it has become in the past few years as
arborists embrace technical rope equipment and techniques as
well as the medical and rescue elements which in the past were
largely dismissed with a well cross that bridge when we come to
it attitude. If we define the work of a climbing arborist as the
use of technical rigging and climbing skills and equipment whilst
using powertools and hand tools on an inherently unstable high
structure it should be more obvious why such skills are so useful
for rescuers. With storm work in particular becoming an increasing necessity, the links become truly cemented as rescuers are
required to clear and make safe downed or dangerous trees.
Virtually ALL rescue personnel would benefit from arborist skills
but its unlikely that an arborist would find much benefit in learning about water rescue or suicide jumper takedowns, although,
never say never, there could come a time when you have to deal
with a suicidal colleague stuck up a tree in rising floodwater?
I would hazard an educated guess that your average arborist has

better rope skills and far better load appreciation than a rope rescuer. Climbing skills and height awareness will be far better than
most firefighters and chainsaw and tool handling will be far better
than most USAR personnel. And so it should be since arborists are
using those skills virtually every day whereas most rescuers probably only train or use their skills operationally from, at best,
weekly to annually in a lot of cases! And its not just skills. Rope
equipment is the most obvious crossover with arborists embracing
SRT and even developing their own specialist rope ascendingdescending devices like the Petzl ZigZag and Singing Tree Rope
Runner - these achieve what
was the Holy Grail in rope
rescue for decades - a properly functioning mechanical
prusik that can more easily
ascend and descend a rope
than the make-shift methods
weve used for years with the
Stop descenders. Initially
such devices were largely
ignored by rescuers because
they are only single-person
rated but in ArbClimber issue
7 we have Petzls new guidelines on two-person rescues

mountain rescuers because they are effectively 3 and 4-season boots with Kevlar protection - if your team regularly
assists other agencies during storms and disasters why
wouldnt you be interested in these dual purpose boots?
And in that same ad and on the cover of TR67 youll see
brightly coloured waterproof clothing that also incorporates chainsaw protective barrier materials. Once
again, apart from the cost, if you have to wear
water proof, tough, high vis clothing for
emergency work why wouldnt it also
be chainsaw protective? It doesnt
just work for chainsaws, in case you
were about to say you never use them, it
stops or slows any toothed cutting blade and its more
ingress resistant when it comes to twigs, branches, or
concrete and rebars! Not quite as robust as fire-resistant/bunker gear but were talking rescue not firefighting. Chainsaws need no mention as a regularly deployed

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

www.trescue.com

rescue tool but consider also the new

generation of battery chainsaws which
could have been made for rescue (but
werent). The pro and semi-pro models with self-sharpening chains add a
whole new dimension to rescue
capabilities and well be reviewing
one such model in detail in Technical
Rescue issue 69. With the boot on the other
foot, Arborists might want to consider rescuers
electric and hand-hydraulic equipment. Spreaders
and rams in particular can be brilliant if you have to deal
with an inopportune lean or for root extraction - well be
looking at this laterin ArbClimber magazine.
Trauma and rescue training is now common to both disciplines with arborist requirements possibly more closely
resembling battlefield trauma! It used to be that arborists
relied on the local fire service/dept for tree rescue but
arborism is quickly becoming more self-sufficient in this regard
as training skills and self-rescue requirements increase.
And the final clincher, we even have both rescuers and arborists
using helicopters. So, both sets of readers can benefit from reading each others magazines - but we would say that!

SAFETY NOTICE

WEAVER COUGAR
bridge r eplacement
Weaver Leather has been made aware of a few reported failures of the rope bridges that are a component part of the
Weaver Cougar Saddle. [ED: this is subsequent and separate
to the recall regarding 2010 Cougar Bridges]. Weaver Leather
would like to remind users that the rope bridges are a replaceable component of the Cougar Saddle and need to be inspected daily and replaced at the first sign of wear, in accordance
with Weaver Leathers instructions and warnings. Daily inspection includes both the cover and rope ends. Also, if the bridge
is ever shock-loaded, replace immediately. As a regular safety
precaution, due to the rigorous strain and conditions these
rope bridges endure, we strongly recommend replacing the
rope bridge at the earlier of the first sign of wear or 6 months.
If you need to replace your rope bridge, please contact your
local dealer or distributor. For live instructions in how to
replace the bridge go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgLwTaDHjf0
Full replacement instructions via www.weaverleather.com

so the crossover is now complete.

Arborists can find many rescue ropes
and items of rescue hardware that
are more than suitable for tree-work
like the CMC MPD for lowering, more
pulleys than your truck could carry
and all manner of useful grabs,
winches, ascenders, descenders etc.
and dont forget the fantastic load
cell monitor from Rock Exotica that
takes a lot of guess work out of your
load and potential-load assessments.
Similary, rescuers can find a whole
host of new high-load and impact
hardware in arborist stores that they
dont see in rescue catalogues. Away
from rope stuff, take a look at the
coloured chainsaw boots in the ad on
the left - these will look familiar to

MAG STUFF

a- Leg Straps
b- Batten Seat
c- Accessory Elastic Strap
d- Ladder Lock
e- Rope Bridge Adjustment
Strap Buckle
f- Rope Bridge Adj Strap
g- Side Dee
h- Nylon Loop
www.arbclimber.com

ACCESS&RESCUE

i- Elastic Loop
j- Ring
k- Rope Bridge
l- Rubber Bumpers
m- Leg Strap Buckle
n- Leg Strap or Batten Seat
Connector
o- Rope Bridge Loop

E-magazine32

SAFETY NOTICE

SAFETY NOTICE

HEIGHTEC/PMI

D42 CHEST ASCENDER

PMI is a distributor of life safety equipment for work-at-height and we
care about your safety and the equipment you use. Heightec has
recently released an important inspection statement regarding the
heightec D42 Twist Chest Ascender. If you use this chest ascender,
then please carefully read the inspection notice and comply with all
requests to see if your heightec D42 Twist Chest Ascender meets the
requirements for replacement. We recommend measuring the device
as heightec states and checking the batch number on the device
before sending it in because it may not qualify for replacement. PMI
customers can send their Twist to PMI or heightec for inspection and
possible replacement if it meets the criteria stated in the notice by
heightec.
We apologize for any inconvenience that this request may cause.
Always make sure that you are using equipment according to the
manufacturers instructions and that each person is properly trained
to use the equipment.
PMI is always happy to answer
any questions and provide you
with further assistance for this
inspection notice by contacting
us at (706) 764-1437 or 1 (800)
282ROPE (7673) or [email protected]. If your
heightec D42 Twist Chest
Ascender meets requirements for
replacement then you can send it
with the inspection notice and
your return address to the:
Pigeon Mountain Industries, Inc.
c/o Kim Hunter
P.O. Box 803
LafayetteGA 30728USA

HEIGHTEC INSPECTION NOTICE:

INCIDENT
During an IRATA Level 1 training course a candidates chest ascender, a
heightec Twist (D42) released the rope during a wide re-belay maneuver when the ascender was in the bottom of the V of rope and both
sides of the V were loaded. No one was injured during the incident.
INVESTIGATION
Checks have indicated that twist ascenders manufactured before
December 2011 could be susceptible to a similar issue. Compact and
Pulsar ascenders are not affected.
ACTION REQUIRED
Twist ascenders manufactured before December 2011 may be identified by their batch number, e.g. 1211, where the first two digits signify the month (12 = December) and the last two digits signify the year
(11 = 2011).
If you have any twist ascenders manufactured before December 2011
measure across the body of the device to the side of the rivet head as
shown in the photo. The shortest distance between the two points
shown should be 26mm or less.
www.heightec.com

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

www.trescue.com

www.arbclimber.com

ROPE STUFF

new from
PETZL
for 2016

Lots to report on for

Petzl this coming year.
New harnesses including
the Volt Line and Volt
Wind which are great
looking easy-don, full
body harnesses.
Manufacturers often
seem to pigeon-hole
their harnesses into a
particular industry or
application and put off
many a prospective customer. These could easily
fall into that trap
because they are presumably aimed at utility
and turbine workers but the features on both
versions lend themselves to virtually any rope-related or height
related discipline. The Wind even
has a bosuns seat option.
Plenty of hardware because
theres a facelift for the
Rescucender (right), the
MicroGrab and MicroSwivel mentioned on page 13, carabiner
captive eyes, an expansion of the Absorbica
shock-absorbing lanyard series and upgrades
for the Pantin foot ascender,
Bucket bag, Zillon and Tiblock all
of which well report on in detail
in the mags.
Heres an interesting modification similar to DMMs Revolver
but in a larger, slightly higher
load bearing format, the Rollclip
with integral pulley sheave. We
think its around 20kN and is
available with the Triact locking
gate or as a snap.
www.petzl.com
ACCESS&RESCUE

E-magazine32

NEW CPR GUIDELINES

Fast but not too fast,

deep but not too deep
by

Brian Robinson

ound advice at the best of times but in this case

these are the gently tweaked CPR compression
guidelines offered by the American Heart
Association and European Resuscitation Councils for
CPR and emergency cardiovascular care into 2016.
Theyre minor changes, adding upper limits to existing
parameters for rate and depth.

Mid October every five

years, regular as clockwork, the European
Resuscitation Council
release their latest
Resuscitation guidelines, aimed at the
whole range from the
guy on the street giving CPR, Paramedics
in front line ambulances, to doctors in an
A&E / ER setting.

Recognising that a cardiac arrest hasnt changed much, with

the exceptions of taking a seizure as a sign of arrest, as its
often associated with agonal gasps, and athletes, football
players etc collapsing on the field should be assessed
accordingly.

Incidentally, Oxygen for resuscitation is preferred in all CPR

cases over either standard BVM at 21% or Expired Air
Resuscitation at say 17%. Its a shame there isnt more input
available on the use of trigger oxygen units, and fully
automatic Oxygen resuscitators for the semi-professional
and professional use.

Standard CPR remains at a 30:2 ratio, going at least 5cm but

not more than 6cm depth at centre chest, and attempting
between 100 to 120
compressions per
minute, easy right?

The basics of hypothermia remain the same as above too,

but advise immediate transfer to an Advanced Cardiac hospital for warming and cardiac treatment. The old adage of
theyre not dead till theyre warm and dead still remains
the same in the field.

The new compression rate is

100120 a minute;
previously at least 100.

The new compression depth is

22.4 inches/ 5-6cm
for adults and adolescents
previously at least 2 inches/5cm.

The whole document along with supporting evidence can be

freely downloaded at http://www.cprguidelines.eu but its a
huge document, put a couple of hours aside to read and
digest it! A lot of whats in there is common sense, some of
it yes Id change slightly, but Im not an eminent professor.
Heres my take on some of the changes made (these are very
minor), but also what the whole new guidelines hint at. Ive
tried to stick to standard BLS and ALS used in day to day
pre-hospital situations such as witnessed arrest CPR and rescue situations involving emergency service personnel, but
have included other items of interest.
The common sense approach starts with a phone call, and
advises that 999/ 112/ 911 dispatchers are fully trained and
conversant in telling people over the phone just how to do
basic yet sufficient CPR to keep someone going until a professional response arrives. As well as the obvious survivability benefits for a casualty, this phone advice gives the
bystanders something to keep them occupied in what are
obviously very trying times.

10

TRm Con-Space & Mines Rescue Editor

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

but 30 compressions generally first,,,! To standardise on

getting that Oxygen in first would be so easy, to my mind
beneficial to casualty survivability in all situations, and certainly much easier from a training point of view. The document does reiterate that survivability in asphyxiation and
drowning where the person has gone into cardiac arrest is
very rare, but obviously we dont give up.

ALS
CPR administered by
the more advanced
medic has several
interesting additions
and changes, though
some are pretty standard practice anyway.

Wave form capnography is advised in such ALS situations to both confirm and
monitor positioning of tracheal tubes.
High quality compressions are still a priority, with minimal
interruptions kept to as low as 5 seconds to allow shocks to
be given from a defibrillator. Self-adhesive AED pads are to
be preferred in all cardiac arrest situations over paddles
because of their more reliable contact, and very interestingly, the use of mechanical chest compression devices such
as the Physio Control Lucas 2 is now not recommended
except in such cases as transportation of casualties in arrest
in an ambulance or in a hospital setting. Yet some US city
paramedic units show very good results in everyday rescue
settings, it may be down to training and familiarity?
Another favourite rescue aspect of mine is drowning and
asphyxiation, with the advice not changing, to give 5 rescue
breaths first, preferably with supplemental oxygen, higher
the %age the better and sooner the better. Now, from a First
Aid / Resuscitation training point of view, this is one of the
most difficult items in the guidelines, 5 breaths here first,
www.trescue.com

Just recently there was a case with a certain Irish budget airline, a passenger had a fatal cardiac arrest in flight, it
brought to light that most internal flights, inter European
flights and budget airlines DONT have AEDs carried on
aircraft, which took me by surprise. These days every amateur soccer club in England has to provide one at each game,
but not an aircraft? They defended themselves saying they
complied with all FAA regulations etc. Well, the ERC have
taken the step of now strongly recommending AEDs and
appropriate CPR equipment should be made mandatory on
all commercial aircraft.Obviously staff should be trained
accordingly, including Over the Head CPR because of the
confines of aircraft cabins (other places should train in this
too, Confined Space work etc). Lets see if the carriers listen.

TRAIIG

MED STUFF

Weve already looked at some training aspects, a BIG thing

here is that the overall ERC research shows that CPR skill
deterioration is in months, not years in the lay person or
even semi professional rescue worker who doesnt get to
carry out real CPR often, therefore more frequent low dose
refresher training. The significance of agonal gasps should
be emphasised during any basic training.
Reading between the lines, I suspect it was considered to
drop the initial use of Compression-Only CPR, favouring
ventilation as well.
It really is a big and somewhat difficult document to read,
but important for us as professionals so persevere. With a
big headline of community response saves lives, the message is quite clearly not just professionalintervention since
such help could be quite a time away, but on training within
the community together with provision of AEDs. We were
promised many years ago that AED prices would be drastically reduced as they became more popular, unfortunately, I
havent seen that materialise but the more units out there,
the better chance of survival.

The time criteria for giving someone prolonged CPR after

being buried by an avalanche has been cut, purely because
the logistics for extracorporeal life support on-scene is probably just not available, therefore survivability is very low,
this section even warrants its own algorithm.
Similarly with triage at Mass Casualty Incidents, it remains
that CPR is NOT given to persons that do not have immediate signs of life, to try and give better survivability to those
that do.
Back to just how easy is 30:2 ratio CPR, on an obese person this can be even more tiring over even just a short time,
it should be considered to change the person over giving
compressions sooner than the usual 2 minutes, trying to cut
interruptions to the CPR to as little as possible of course.
www.arbclimber.com

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

11

ARB/ROPE STUFF

KNOTS

ARB/ROPE STUFF

MICHOACAN
USE for:

new from
PETZL

hitch

Climbing hitch for split-tail system

Lanyard length adjuster

If you like the performance of the

Blakes hitch, but prefer the tidiness and
versatility a closed climbing hitch offers,
check out the Michoacan (mi show e
kin). It is fundamentally the same as the
blakes but is tied to the climbing line
with a double-eye cord sling of smaller
diameter than the climbing line. Four or
five wraps (4-1 & 5-1) are made above
the bridge, after which the tail is tucked
through the first wrap. Other popular
variants include the 4-2
which is the same as the
Blakes hitch and the 5-2. A
good sling length is around
28-30 (71-76cm)

Blakes hitch

Edited EXTRACT from

KNOTS at WORK
by Jeff Jepson

[ED: as if Petzl werent getting enough coverage in this issue [its

not paid for honest!] heres a useful statement confirming the use of
Petzl MICRO TRAXION to back-up a Petzl ascender during tree work]:

The Petzl MICRO TRAXION can be used

as a back-up for a Petzl ASCENSION or
Petzl ASCENTREE in tree care ascent.
This technique must only be executed by experienced users who are trained in its proper application. The MICRO TRAXION should be connected to
the ASCENSION by an oval carabiner (such as the
Petzl OK TL). This installation could replace a textile
prussik [sic] for example.
In this solution the redundancy is not total because
usually only one connector links the harness to the
ascending system.
It could, however, reduce the risks related to foreign
bodies entering the cam. Make sure the MICRO
TRAXION cam is active. The upper hole is suitable for
this use.
It is important to regularly monitor the condition of the product
and its connections to the other equipment in the system. Make
sure that all items of equipment are correctly positioned with
respect to each other.
The user should make their own risk analysis to determine if this
solution is appropriate for their environment.
Sincerely
Bernard Bressoux
Petzl: Quality & Technical Director

12

for 2016

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

MICROFLIP
MICROGRAB
& MICRO
SWIVEL

www.trescue.com

A whole family of products sees the

new Micrograb married to the wire-cored
MicroFlip lanyard. This can be connected to the
new Micro Swivel to ensure correct alignment of
your gear. In the diagram below left and the photo
above the double-mode is shown which has the addition of
a prusik to bridge the two sides of the lanyard and improve circumferential traction or, if you prefer a significantly shorter word,
grip. The MicroGrab has a thumb grip on the cam making length
adjustment quick and easy and can be purchased as a separate item.
The Micro-Swivel attaches to a carabiner through the small eye and
to the captive eye of the lanyard (or any other piece of equipment
you wish to use) via the larger, openable eye. Nevertheless, it
remains a diminutive, unobtrusive accessory. No idea of prices yet stay tuned. www.petzl.com

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

13

TACTICAL & PPE

BLACK
NEWINTELLIGENT
DYNEEMA! CLOTHING SPEC
[ED: this may not seem like a startling release but Dyneema/Kevlar
has traditionally only been available in that familiar yellowish or
white colour and Dyneema slings in particular have always been
striped to get colour variations]
Black Dyneema is similar to natural white Dyneema fiber, except
that it is permanently colored throughout its cross-section. The coloring process has no effect on any of the key mechanical properties
of the fiber, nor on its smooth surface. Very high breaking strength
and stiffness, low density, low elongation, excellent durability,
chemical, moisture and UV resistance are all retained, as is the
fibers quality consistency.
Until now, Dyneema fiber has only been available in its natural
white color. If users wanted to use the fiber in an application
requiring color, they needed to post-treat it. But UHMWPE fibers
are almost inert chemically, so the colors, which are only on the
surface, tend to wear off.
www.Dyneema.com

[ED Not hard to see how this new technology can benefit emergency services personnel and forestry workers/arborists.]
BSI, the business standards company, has published PAS 10412,
Intelligent clothing LED active high visibility clothing
Specification, sponsored by the Taiwan
Textile Research Institute (TTRI).
When workers operate in areas
where there is no light they must be
visible to each other and their environment. In the absence of light, high
visibility clothing may not be seen, or
available light may not be sufficient
to reflect or charge the luminescent parts of the clothing. In
this instance the use of
active lighting such as LED
(Light Emitting Diode)
technology is essential,
however currently there is
no existing specification
to standardize the quality
of LED technology that is
used in conjunction with
high visibility workwear.
PAS 10412 was developed using a consensusbased approach with
international stakeholders from academia and
the textiles, lighting, PPE
(personal protective
equipment), high visibility
clothing and safety wear industries. The
Taiwan Textile Research Institute was particularly concerned for
the safety of Taiwan's traffic police and it has been recognized
that such a specification would be of global benefit to others in a
similar role.
Anne Hayes, Head of Market Development for Governance & Risk
at BSI said: "The workplace is not the only environment in which
individuals should be kept safe. Anybody who is operating in dim
or dark situations where they might face a hazard, should feel
confident that the clothing they are wearing will make them visible. Having a specification that shows that the LED technology in
high visibility clothing is working and meets standard requirements goes a long way towards building confidence."
PAS 10412 is therefore relevant to construction, police, rescue
teams, sports people such as skiers or cyclists, or any individuals
who need to be outside at night and for whom high visibility
clothing could be useful.

14

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

www.trescue.com

PRODUCT CATALOGUES
What PAS 10412 covers:
Requirements for high visibility clothing conforming to EN ISO
20471* incorporating active lighting via LEDs
LED modules that are permanently attached to high visibility
clothing
LED lighting fixtures with a removable battery-controller set and
LEDs measuring between 2mm and 20 mm in diameter
Clothing designed for temperatures falling between -30C and
50C which is applicable to use in professional or civil situations
Requirements for the luminous intensity of the LED lighting fixture
Annex A covers requirements for test specimens and test conditions. Annex B covers a test method for an LED lighting fixture
photometric measurement
What PAS 10412 does not cover:
Requirements of the wiring, e.g. electrically conductive material
that is woven into the fabric itself, or fabric made of electrically
conductive material
LED active high visibility clothing designed for use in fire-fighting, or for protecting against chemical, bio-nuclear, or radioactive
situations
The placement or configuration of LED lighting sets on high visibility clothing
Other active lighting technologies attached to high visibility
clothing that are not LED-based
* EN ISO 20471 High visibility clothing -- Test methods and requirements specifies requirements for high visibility clothing which is capable of visually signalling
the user's presence

AMKUS RESCUE
SYSTEMS
Extrication & Rescue
equipment
RESCUE, TACTICAL
20 pages, Products &data
www.amkus.com

CMC RESCUE
Rope hardware, software,
PPE and patient packaging
RESCUE, ACCESS,
(ARBORISTS), TACTICAL
180 pages, Products, data
and instructional
www.cmcrescue.com

2016 Calendar
Slightly unsettling but a very
worthy cause as Birch Utility
seek to raise funds for the
Welsh Air Ambulance after
they evacuated a colleague
badly injured by a chainsaw.
Sold by HONEY BROTHERS in
the UK for 6. all proceeds
to Welsh Air Ambulance
www.honeybros.com

SAR PRODUCTS
Rope hardware, software,
PPE and patient packaging
RESCUE, ACCESS,
ARBORISTS, TACTICAL
79 pages Products & data
www.sarproducts.com

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

15

INTERNATIONAL

PRINT & DIGITAL BACK ISSUES

TECHNICAL

RESCUE

www.dsei.co.u
with the words SUBSCRIBE or BACK
to Subscribe or order back issues:
ISSUES in the subject line and well
by card, cheque or bank transfer
email you back to confirm details
email us at: [email protected]

See page 2 of this Emag for subscription prices.

Available as 4 or 8 issues- print or digital-only
NB: print subscribers can request a free digital version

SAR

pending

$7.5 / 7. ea

ARB

CLIMBER

$7.5 / 7. ea

$7.5 / 7. ea

to Subscribe or order back issues:

by card, cheque or bank transfer
email us at: [email protected]

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with the words SUBSCRIBE or BACK

ISSUES in the subject line and well
email you back to confirm details

$7.5 / 7. ea

$7.5 / 7. ea

$7.5 / 7. ea

$10. / 8. ea

CHARGING for
INCIDENT RESPONSE
[ED: not the first time weve seen this but
there are undoubtedly implications for other
types of emergency response as budgets
get tighter and charging spreads]
Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department
[Michigan] will begin charging neighboring
fire departments when responding to a
fire outside the boundaries of the member townships of Acme, East Bay, and
Garfield. The decision to charge was triggered by the disparity between the 25
times Metro gave support to surrounding
fire departments during the past year
compared to the five times it received aid.
"Mutual aid is exactly that, if we give you
aid we can expect aid in return," said
Metro Fire Chief Pat Parker. "But as you
can see from the numbers, we really

16

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

www.arbclimber.com

digi-only $3./2.ea

$7.5 / 7. ea

See page 2 of this Emag for subscription prices.

Available as 4 or 8 issues- print or digital-only
NB: print subscribers can request a free digital version

$7.5 / 7. ea

$7.5 / 7. ea

New website coming in 2016

$15./10. ea

$7.5 / 7.ea

$15./10. ea

haven't had that." Grand Traverse County operates on what's

known as a box-response system where the county is divided into
80 geographic boxes and fire department response is assigned in
advance based on the severity of each incident. The initial call
triggers a first alarm. Larger fires that require more resources
would escalate the event to a second, third, or fourth alarm.
Metro will charge $1,000 for the first two hours at a second
alarm, $5,000 for a three-alarm fire, and $2,500 for a four-alarm
incident. The bill would be $2,500 per hour after two hours. Board
members also asked to change the boxes so Metro Fire no longer
is called to respond to first alarms outside of the three townships.
"So many first alarms are just an investigation of a fire," Parker
said. "There's no reason for us to be rolling our trucks out. Any
established fire department should be able to handle those types
of calls." Parker said the main reason Metro Fire is called to a first
alarm is because they staff their stations 24 hours per day and not
all of the surrounding townships have that same level of service.
"There is a level of readiness that our townships are willing to pay
for and to give that readiness away to your neighbors without
charge doesn't seem right," Parker said. "I think you are going to
start seeing some changes throughout the county.
[extract from report by The Record-Eagle, Traverse City, Mich].
www.trescue.com

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

17

SAR

RESCUE SQUAD CAPTAIN

ARRESTED FOLLOWING
WATER LOD DEATH

2015 saw UK RAF SAR

Operations End

AQUATIC
The kayakers body was recovered the next day.
Following the incident, the ALEA Marine Police division,
Etowah County Sheriffs Office, Gadsden Police Department,
Gadsden Fire Department and the Etowah County District
Attorneys office began an investigation. That same day,
Carroll issued an order that the rescue squad not be permitted to respond or operate within the city of Gadsden.

[ED: A REPORT from Lisa Savage of the Gasden Times (Alabama, USA)
on an indictment which may have repercussions for all rescue agencies.
It may also highlight the problems associated with having too many
agencies vying for a limited number of incidents and/or budget in certain areas and the importance of maintaining the highest level of train[Congratulations to JW Fisher for their recent endorsement
ing and utilising experienced personnel for hazardous rescues?]
from US Homeland Security for the Pulse 8X underwater
The former captain of the Etowah County Rescue Squad has been
metal detector. Jack would have been very proud]:
arrested for criminally negligent homicide related to the drowning
JW Fishers Pulse 8X has been rated the
death of a rescue squad volunteer [Vicky Box Ryan, 46] April 25. Ryan
best underwater metal detector by the
drowned after the boat she was in capsized during a mission on Big
US Department of Homeland
Wills Creek off Brooke Avenue.
Securitys SAVER program. The
Michael Ervin Bettis, 49, Gadsden, was arrested on the misdemeanor
System Assessment and
charge after he was indicted by an Etowah County grand jury, accordValidation for Emergency
ing to a news release from Sheriff Todd Entrekin. The news release cited
Responders (SAVER) program
state law that a person commits criminally negligent homicide if he or
she causes the death of another person by criminal negligence.Entrekin was established to assist
emergency responders making procurement decisions.
said the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, marine division, was the
Located within the DHS Science and Technology Directorate,
lead agency during the investigation. Bettis was held in the Etowah
the SAVER Program conducts objective assessments and valiCounty Detention Center on $2,500 bond.
Volunteers with the rescue squad were among those who responded to dations on commercial equipment and systems and provides
the low-head dam at the old steel plant pump station for the recovery
those results along with other relevant equipment informaof the body of a kayaker who went missing in the water about 11 a.m. tion to the emergency responder community. In a compariApril 25. Gadsden Fire Department officials ordered the rescue squad
son of the 8 top underwater detectors on the market, Fishers
members to stay out of the water and work only from the bank
Pulse 8X was rated number one.
because of unsafe conditions. Neither fire department personnel nor
One agency having great success with the underwater metal
the sheriffs office dive team members went in the water. The water
detector is the New Mexico State Police. The NMSP Search
was high, but the conditions at the location of a low-head dam also are
and Recovery Dive Team was established in 1963 in response
dangerous. As water goes over the dam, it creates a strong recirculatto increasing demands for law enforcement divers to respond
ing current at the dams base. The force can trap boats against the
to drownings and underwater recovery of property and evidam and pull people under the water, even if they are wearing a life
dence. The team currently consists of nineteen officers stavest. It was determined the rescue mission was to become a body
recovery, and Gadsden Fire Chief Stephen Carroll said the rescue squad tioned throughout the state. Although most people think of
New Mexico as a desert state, within its borders are numerresponded. They were told what to do and what not do, he said in
ous recreational waterways as well as thousands of miles of
June. Bettis was captain at the time.
irrigation and drainage canals. Recently the team was called
Despite the instructions, the rescue squad put two boats in the water
about 5:30 p.m. One of the boats, then the other, got too close to the
out to find a weapon used in homicide and thrown into the
dam and capsized. Nine rescue squad members were thrown into the
Rio Grande River. Dive team member Sgt. Ryan Carr reported,
water. Ryan drowned and three others were treated at a hospital.
We used three of our Pulse 8X detectors in the search that
day, and located the gun in less than an hour.

Number 1
U/W Metal Detector

[ED: The venerable bright yellow Sea Kings of the UKs RAF Search
and Rescue flights have now handed over operations to HM
Coastguard. Although the purpose of military SAR is primarily the
rescue of downed air crews this extremely rare event in peacetime Britain means that civilian rescues have long been the bread
and butter of RAF SAR flights. The UK doesnt have the active
Para-Jumper role and military rescue capability of the US and

Canadian Air Forces so it would have been difficult to justify an

investment in updating the helos to Merlins or conceivably preconfigured Blackhawks which the RAF doesnt currently operate.
So, while its sad to see them go and especially the rescue expertise they engender, its no surprise.]
MORE THAN 74 years of continuous Royal Air Force UK search and
rescue (SAR) air operations ended last month, as the Service handed over SAR duties to the Maritime & Coastguard Agency and
Bristow Helicopters Ltd. Since their introduction more than 30
years ago, the RAFs famous yellow Sea Kings and their crews
have saved tens of thousands of lives and continued to stand by
on duty 24-hours-a-day until 4 October, when the final operational flight landed at Royal Marines Base Chivenor in Devon. The
handover marked the end of more than 74 years of continuous
SAR air operations by the RAF in the UK, during which SAR personnel have been awarded six George Medals, more than 50 Air
Force Crosses and Medals, and more than 90 Queens
Commendations for Bravery or Valuable Service in the Air.
Official RAF SAR statistic record-keeping only began in 1983, but
since then the RAFs six SAR units have completed 34,025 callouts
and rescued 26,853 persons in distress.
Chivenor was the last SAR base to hand over responsibility to
Bristow Helicopters Ltd, which will provide crews and helicopters
to maintain SAR duties under Maritime & Coastguard Agency
management. The RAFs final search and rescue air operation took
place on 4 October, after Devon & Cornwall Police asked for assistance in taking a 38-year-old-man found unconscious on
Ilfracombe Beach to a hospital.

Oceanid

While RAF SAR air missions in the UK have come to an end, a

small number of Sea King crews will continue to train at Chivenor
to prepare them to provide cover for aircrew stationed in the
Falkland Islands.
UK Crown copyright 2015

18

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

www.trescue.com

WATER RESCUE CRAFT

www.arbclimber.com

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

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A RT I C L E I N D E X

ICAL
TECHN

68
RESCUE

GEAR REVIEWS
Sorting the Wheat
from the Chaff
(reviewers as well as kit)

hen we first
started
Technical
Rescue magazine it didnt take long to realise
that if we gave equipment to a third party for
review it invariably came
back glowing and with
not too much attention
to detail. Most operational fire crews or mountain rescue teams
or arborists tended to be intimately familiar with one or two
brands of equipment so made all their review comparisons based
on this limited range. Indeed, product loyalty was such that you
would often hear competing brands dismissed out of hand. It
took us decades of testing and operational work to gain enough
broad spectrum knowledge to be confident in virtually all areas of
equipment reviewing, to know what weaknesses and strengths to
look for and to know what the competing brands were either better at or more deficient in. Within a very small pool of personnel
we have been testing and using equipment week-in, week-out
and some of our colleagues even went on to work in testing
and/or procurement for the Fire, Coastguard and water rescue
agencies thus gaining even more comparative
knowledge.

sometimes to test an
aspect that someone
else has discovered. The
main difference with our reviews is that we tend only to review
equipment that we already know is good, either through experience or recommendation and we get back to the manufacturer if
we ever find a design problem to give them an opportunity to
look into this. Much of our testing is outside of the manufacturers guidelines because we know exactly how some kit is used in
the real world. We cant recommend those modes of use but we
can at least see if theres likely to be a problem somewhere down
the road. Hypothetically, theres no point in creating a carabiner
that has a major axis strength of 5 tonnes, a minor axis (across
the gate)of only a few hundred kilos or pounds with the instructions - Never load across the gate. Sooner or later, ineptitude or
accidental re-orientation would cause exactly the kind of loading
the carabiner was NOT designed for.
This would not be an acceptable design
for real world use. In the next Emags
well list all of our PPE, Rope Rescue,
Extrication/USAR, water rescue and
lighting/cases and medical product
reviews but as a precursor here are our
Knife/Cutting tool reviews/Back to Back
comparisons:

TR68
TR68
&AC7

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
ORIGIN:
COST:
WEIGHT:
SIZES:
STANDARDS:
WEB:

TIMBER II
Czech Republic
162. exc VAT / 210
1.8 to 1.95kg. 4-4.3 lbs
M/L XL
CE 1019 EN 358 EN 81
www.singingrock.com

Timber II

And then came YouTube and the internet.

Now, every man and his dog can express an
opinion on how good or bad a piece of equipment is and often not only sound quite
knowledgable but do so to a huge readership or viewership or whatever the term is.
Comments on a Forum are generally too isolated and subjective to be accepted at facevalue; one bad experience of one specific aspect, sometimes during inappropriate application, is enough to dismiss kit, often with
the rider Ive always sworn by such&such and its never let me
down . Maybe not but if its the same piece of kit youve been
using and repurchasing for the past 10 years youre probably not
best placed to comment on the validity of a new or different
product. However, one good thing to come out of the explosion in
Internet Reviewers is that we can now easily check on the experiences of others if and when we come across a problem. People
rarely say precisely why equipment is good but theyre not shy in
pointing out defects. Even when theyre not actually defects. This
has given us the chance to double check our own findings and

What the company blurb says:

Work positioning harness presenting a perfect choice for arborists

innovated anatomic waist belt and leg padding perfectly fits man anatomy [bit sexist?]
removable and exchangable bridge connecting the leg loops
adjustable sliding D-ring enables you to take safe, comfortable and effective work
position
wide and stiff padding offers great comfort when hanging in the harness
side D-rings for work positioning EN 358 or gear attachment
4 gear loops with a bearing capacity of 10 kg provide enough space for your gear.
additional loops with a bearing capacity of 5 kg offer additional space for the gear
and better gear orientation.
waist belt construction allows to attach First Aid Kit and plastic holders for industrial
tools (Porter).

eve had the Timber I

on the go for so long
the manufacturer actually introduced a new version
before we could get the review
out! The Timber II changes were
mostly a considerable improvement on the version we have
although ironically we would
consider that the changes to the
gear loops were the opposite of
what we wanted to see and discuss later in this review.
Otherwise the changes dont
radically affect our in-use
observations. The main change
is to have quick-release buckles
instead of the original double-Ds
- this is a great improvement
and although it will presumably
have increased the cost from
the first version it is good to see
a company reactiting so decisively to good market trends.
The bridge is now attached to a
shackle for easy changing and is
red rather than the black shown
in our in-use pictures. Singing
Rock say that the bright colour
makes the bridge easier to find
and clip than the black. Ignore
the black ring inside the
legloops of the rear-view picture
opposite- thats for the photographers benefit in holding the
leg loops out in a nice circle.

The Timber is a specialist design

from a company which may be
relatively little known to many
of you but we have been using
some of their other specialist

harnesses for a good many years

and have always been very
impressed with construction
quality and design features so
you can have faith in their products. The Timber is very much a
mid-range harness with good
features at an affordable price
and it is one of a handful, like
the Harkie and Sherrills Edge
that offer loads of great features
but have a familiarity and simplicity that make them all very
user-friendly from the get-go.
Its not a TreeMotion, it doesnt
have that degree of complexity
but its 100 or $200 less so has
cost on its side.
The fundamental difference
between harnesses (other than
the cost) is how the connection
to your working line is arranged.
These days there are three
options for your primary connection; SRT (central hardpoint), sit strap D rings and
the bridge which is a length of
rope or webbing that spans two
sides of your harness. The
Timber II utilises a double thickness webbing in a lurid red
which is easily replaced via
shackles instead of the alloy
rings from the Timber I.

During a working day youll

make use of the other attachment points which will load the
harness in different ways and if
not designed by a user can
result in an annoying imbalance.

ISSUE 2

20

ARB CLIMBER

TR66
TR65
& AC4

ARB CLIMBER

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

TR68 has the Cutters

Edge H3 MultiCut saw
on the cover with a
more detailed
look inside at the features of the
H3. TR69 will feature the CMC MPD
in its new CE marked guise. No
surprise that both magazine will be
later than we were hoping because
were still waiting for TR67 to print
and arrive but 68 will repro straight
afterwards rather than wait for the
usual quarterly spacing.

ARB

CLIMBE
R7

MULTITOOLS & KNIVES

www.arbclimber.com

GEAR REVIEW

NEXT ISSUES

TR64
& AC4
TR64
TR63
&AC2
TR62
&AC2

StatGear T9 Tactical
Leatherman Wave
Leatherman
Supertool
Victorinox SwissTool
SOG PowerAssist 66
Leatherman Surge
Leatherman OHT
SOG Power Assist S66
SOG Powerduo
Leatherman MUT
Gerber Legend
Gerber Crucial
Leatherman
Wingman
Gerber Bear Survival
Leatherman Wave
Halligan Tool
Leatherman Skeletool
Victorinox Work
Champ
Buck 730 X-Tract
Leatherman Crunch
Gerber Grappler
Kershaw A100

TR61
&AC1
TR60
& AC1
TR51
TR49
TR48
TR47

TR46

SOG Powerlock 62N

Leatherman
Supertool 300
Victorinox SwisstoolX
CRKT Zilla
Leatherman Surge
Wenger Mike Horn
Eickhorn Solingen RT
II & III knives
Spencer Mach3
Scissors
Singing Rock
Rescue Knife
Buck Code 3
Crosslock
Fox ALSR
Hinderer Rescue
Kershaw Rescue Blur
Eickhorn Solingen
PRT II
Spyderco Assist 1 FRN
Leatherman E306x
locking knife

www.trescue.com

ARB

CLIMBE
R8
AC7 is at repro now awaiting TR67 to clear the printer. The cover
shows a Portawrap encircled by Sterlings Atlas rope. Inside we look
at rigging techniques, prusik cord, chainsaw trousers, a rigging plate,
some botany and the YouTube generation. Meanwhile, back at the
coalface, issue 8 features an extensive guide to chainsaw boots.

www.arbclimber.com

ACCESS&RESCUE E-magazine32

21