High-Angle and Confined Space Rescue Course

Lesson 1 • Rescue Mission and Responder Roles

Defines rescue as a discipline and maps team roles to operational functions. Grounds students in accountability structures before any technical training begins.

Lesson 2 • Regulatory and Standards Framework

Surveys applicable occupational safety standards and consensus rescue guidelines. Connects compliance requirements to field decision-making throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Medical and Legal Considerations

Addresses responder authority, patient consent, and scope-of-care boundaries. Establishes the ethical and legal context for all patient-contact activities.

Lesson 4 • Personal Protective Equipment Selection

Covers PPE categories required for high-angle and confined space environments. Students match PPE to hazard profiles identified during size-up.

Lesson 1 • Hardware Identification and Function

Introduces carabiners, descenders, ascenders, pulleys, and anchor plates. Students identify each device's load rating, gate type, and intended function.

Lesson 2 • Inspection, Retirement, and Storage

Establishes pre-use inspection protocols and retirement criteria for rope and hardware. Proper storage practices prevent degradation between deployments.

Lesson 3 • Webbing, Slings, and Accessory Cord

Covers flat webbing, tubular webbing, and accessory cord used in anchors and patient packaging. Students distinguish appropriate applications for each material.

Lesson 4 • Rope Construction and Classification

Examines fiber types, construction methods, and performance ratings for rescue rope. Students select appropriate rope for given load and environmental conditions.

Lesson 1 • Hitches and Friction Applications

Introduces Munter, Prusik, Klemheist, and Bachmann hitches for belay and progress capture. Students select the correct hitch based on rope diameter and load direction.

Lesson 2 • Foundation Knots for Rescue

Covers figure-eight family, bowline, and overhand knots used as primary load-bearing connections. Each knot is practiced to proficiency before advancing.

Lesson 3 • Knot Proficiency Under Operational Conditions

Applies knot skills in low-light, gloved, and time-limited scenarios. Builds the muscle memory required for reliable performance during actual rescues.

Lesson 4 • Bends and Joining Techniques

Covers double fisherman, flat overhand bend, and water knot for joining ropes and webbing. Students identify failure modes and inspection points for each bend.

Lesson 1 • Anchor Principles and Criteria

Defines SERENE-A and similar anchor evaluation frameworks. Students apply criteria to assess any anchor before committing a load to the system.

Lesson 2 • Anchor System Evaluation and Backup

Establishes a systematic check process for completed anchor systems before loading. Students identify deficiencies and apply corrective rigging before operations begin.

Lesson 3 • Artificial Anchor Devices

Introduces bolts, pickets, deadman anchors, and portable anchor plates. Students install and test artificial anchors in soil, concrete, and structural substrates.

Lesson 4 • Natural and Structural Anchors

Covers trees, boulders, vehicles, and structural members as anchor points. Students assess suitability and apply appropriate rigging to each anchor type.

Lesson 1 • Converting Between Lowering and Raising

Teaches the rigging transitions required to switch from lowering to raising mid-operation. Students execute conversions safely without releasing load control.

Lesson 2 • Mechanical Advantage Raising Systems

Introduces 3:1, 4:1, and compound mechanical-advantage systems for raising loads. Students calculate theoretical mechanical advantage and account for friction losses.

Lesson 3 • Belay Systems and Redundancy

Establishes independent belay lines and progress-capture devices as safety backups. Students operate a two-line system with coordinated main and belay teams.

Lesson 4 • Lowering System Components and Setup

Covers brake-bar racks, figure-eight plates, and MPDs configured for controlled lowering. Students build and operate a lowering system from anchor to edge.

Lesson 5 • Operational Communication and Commands

Standardizes voice and signal commands for lowering and raising operations. Students practice command sequences until communication is automatic and error-free.

Lesson 1 • Confined Space Classification

Distinguishes permit-required from non-permit confined spaces using regulatory criteria. Students classify spaces encountered in industrial, municipal, and construction settings.

Lesson 2 • Lockout and Energy Isolation

Covers identification and control of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic energy sources. Students apply lockout procedures before entry into energy-controlled spaces.

Lesson 3 • Permit System and Entry Procedures

Walks through the confined space entry permit process from hazard identification to entry authorization. Students complete and verify permits before any simulated entry.

Lesson 4 • Atmospheric Hazards and Monitoring

Covers oxygen deficiency, flammable gases, and toxic contaminants found in confined spaces. Students calibrate and operate multi-gas monitors for pre-entry and continuous monitoring.

Lesson 1 • Victim Assessment in Confined Spaces

Adapts patient assessment to the physical and atmospheric constraints of confined spaces. Students prioritize life threats and packaging decisions based on space geometry.

Lesson 2 • Patient Packaging for Extraction

Covers SKED, Saver, and flexible litter systems suited to confined space geometry. Students package a victim for vertical, horizontal, and angled extraction paths.

Lesson 3 • Extraction Operations and Debrief

Integrates retrieval rigging, team communication, and patient packaging into full extraction scenarios. Post-scenario debriefs identify system and communication failures.

Lesson 4 • Non-Entry Retrieval Systems

Covers tripod, davit, and winch-based retrieval systems for vertical confined space extraction. Students rig and operate retrieval systems without entering the space.

Lesson 1 • Scenario Design and Evaluation Criteria

Explains how integrated scenarios are structured and how performance is evaluated. Students understand the competency benchmarks required for course completion.

Lesson 2 • High-Angle Rescue Scenario Execution

Students lead and execute a full high-angle rescue from size-up through patient handoff. Evaluators assess anchor construction, system rigging, and team communication.

Lesson 3 • Confined Space Rescue Scenario Execution

Students manage a permit-required confined space rescue from entry permit to victim extraction. Atmospheric monitoring, team roles, and extraction rigging are all evaluated.

Lesson 4 • Combined High-Angle and Confined Space Scenario

Presents a scenario requiring simultaneous management of vertical terrain and confined space hazards. Students allocate resources and coordinate sub-teams across both disciplines.