ITCC

Aerial Rescue

The Aerial Rescue event is a timed event that tests the contestant's ability to climb to and safely lower a climber who is unable to descend without assistance. The event setup is the same for male and female contestants.

The event head judge will advise the contestants of the climber's (represented by a dummy) situation prior to the start of the event. An aerial rescue summary sheet explaining the injuries and details of the climber's situation will be provided to the competitors at the climbers' event walk-through. Contestants must perform a site safety assessment, a pre-climb assessment, and an onsite casualty assessment, and should use all relevant techniques to ensure that the rescue process does not exacerbate the situation. The injured climber (dummy) should be lowered as safely, carefully, and efficiently as possible.

The contestant, as first responder, will assume control of the site, take control of all relevant safety issues, and will contact local emergency services.

While the contestant is entering the tree, the emergency medical technician (EMT) arrives. The EMT on site has instructed the contestant that the injured climber must be lowered safely to the ground so that the EMT can perform an assessment. The EMT does not have the equipment or training to lower the injured climber and is not fully trained in the hazards associated with performing an aerial rescue from a tree and therefore is unable to assist. The EMT will be identified prior to the event by the event head judge, all communication from the competitor will be directed to the designated EMT only. (2009)

The injured climber (represented by a dummy) is installed in the tree with a regulation climbing line and saddle/harness approximately 20 to 25 feet (6 to 7.5 meters) above the ground. The contestant must enter the tree using a previously installed line located approximately 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 meters) from the injured worker. Men are provided 5 minutes to complete the event, and women are provided 7 minutes.