Tensioned Highline Systems for Rope Rescue Operations

by Michael Donahue
Created: November 1, 2010

Photo by Michael R. Donahue

Figure 6: An English reeve system (Figure 6) coordinates the control lines for up and down movement. The Prusiks serve as a backup, should any of the control lines fail.
Figure 6: An English reeve system (Figure 6) coordinates the control lines for up and down movement. The Prusiks serve as a backup, should any of the control lines fail.
Photo by Michael R. Donahue

Figure 5: Once tensioned, the belay line will get locked in place by utilizing a break-bar rack. This allows rescuers to lower the victim in the event of a main line failure.
Figure 5: Once tensioned, the belay line will get locked in place by utilizing a break-bar rack. This allows rescuers to lower the victim in the event of a main line failure.
Photo by Michael R. Donahue

Figure 4: Tandem triple-wrap prusicks hold tension on the line once it's been set with a haul system
Figure 4: Tandem triple-wrap prusicks hold tension on the line once it's been set with a haul system
Photo by Michael R. Donahue

Figure 3: A rescue ascender is used with this 5:1 MAS. The system allows a rescuer to quickly move the haul system from one line to another.
Figure 3: A rescue ascender is used with this 5:1 MAS. The system allows a rescuer to quickly move the haul system from one line to another.
Photo by Michael R. Donahue

Figure 2: Allowing around 10 percent slack will create the proper angle between the two anchors.
Figure 2: Allowing around 10 percent slack will create the proper angle between the two anchors.
Photo by Michael R. Donahue

Figure 1: The lack of an angle between the two anchor points creates a high degree of stress on both ends.
Figure 1: The lack of an angle between the two anchor points creates a high degree of stress on both ends.

Let’s discuss how we’re going to tension our system. Utilizing an anchor, ideally in line with our highline direction, we’re going to build a 5:1 MAS and connect it to our main line via a rescue ascender (see Figure 3). By utilizing a rope-grab device such as a rescue ascender, it will allow us to disconnect and move our haul system from one line to the other or to another desired location. Once the main line is tensioned, lock the main line in place by using tandem triple-wrapped prusiks (see Figure 4.) Prusiks are great to use because they will give warning prior to failing. The prusik hitch will first skip down the rope and, under some circumstances, melt to the rope before it will fail completely. The main line is now tensioned and held in place by the tandem triple-wrapped prusiks and the haul system can be disconnected.

Now let’s tension our second main line (belay line). Just like our main line, we’ll connect our haul system to the belay line via tandem triple-wrapped prusik hitches. Once tensioned, the belay line will get locked in place by utilizing a break-bar rack. This would allow us to introduce slack into the belay line via the rack in the event we had a main-line failure and were forced for some reason to lower our victim to the ground—this operation would be based on the vertical height of the system (see Figure 5). The reason for tensioning our belay line is that in the event of a main-line failure we can still complete our mission utilizing our belay line. Remember, our belay line is on a completely separate anchor system than our main line and is perfectly safe to use to complete our rescue.

Moving Forward…And Backward

Now let's look at how we're going to move the victim from point A to point B. Control lines, which can be tied to the head and the foot of the stokes basket or connected to the kootney pulley itself allow us to move our victim forward or backward. If you create what's called an English reeve system (see Figure 6), up and down movement can be achieved as well. Our vertical control lines are connected to the stokes basket via the bridle system. As an added safety measure, on each horizontal control line we will attach tandem triple-wrapped prusiks connected to the stokes via a separate carabiner. If the knot used to tie the control line to the basket fails or the carabiner should become disconnected from the stokes basket, the prusiks, having independent connection points, will catch the load allowing us to complete the mission in a expeditious manner. Depending on the slack or angle of the highline, your control lines may need to run through a break-bar rack for a controlled initial forward movement and a MAS on the far side of the highline to complete the victims forward movement from the midway point in the highline to the other side. Having a rack in place on the control line that is connected to the head will also double as a means of lowering the victim in the event you were forced into such an operation. It may seem like overkill to have a means of lowering the patient on both the belay line as well as the control line, however backups and redundancy in rope systems are never a bad thing.

Highline systems are a facet of rope rescue that isn’t used that often, and that statement may be based purely on your department or rescue team’s response area. This skill seems to be utilized more in rural and wilderness areas as opposed to a more urban area. In actuality, the versatility of a highline system can be beneficial in many different rescue operations and in many different response areas. I can build a highline system to transport an injured hiker over an impassable ravine 100 feet in the air. I can take that same highline system and utilize it in an urban setting to transport gear, tools, or victims over a field of debris from a building collapse.

With a little training, your highline operations will only be as limited as the ingenuity you possess.

Stay safe and stay progressive.

MICHAEL R. DONAHUE is a 14-year veteran of the fire service is assigned to Rescue Company 1 in Elizabeth, NJ. Mike is the owner and founder of Progressive Rescue, a company dedicated to further firefighter's in all aspects of the job. He holds the title of rescue specialist with New Jersey's Urban Search and Rescue Team (NJ-TF1) and he is actively teaching at Middlesex Fire academy and the Middlesex County College as their Fire Science Program Coordinator. Mike has been a guest on two Firehouse.com podcasts: The Buzz on Technical Rescue: Rope Rescue Operations and The Buzz on Technical Rescue: Special Operations Roundtable, has taught as a HOT instructor at Firehouse Expo and is the Specialized Rescue Forum moderator for Firehouse.com. You can reach Michael by e-mail at progressiverescue@gmail.com.

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