ACTC Aerial Rescue & Emergency Response

Are you qualified?
Are your crews ready and prepared?

Aerial Rescue and Emergency Preparedness by Jesse Sanchez Is aerial rescue a topic of discussion in how it relates to your day to day operations as a tree care professional? Tree climbers and aerial lift operators are exposed to the many hazards associated with the work we perform on a day to day basis. Are you and your co-workers adequately prepared and trained to respond to an emergency situation if something should go array? There are many ways in which a climber or aerial lift operator can be injured and unable to descend on their own creating an emergency response scenario. Possibilities include heat exhaustion, electrical shock, chainsaw cuts, struck by, and trapped and pinned just to name a few.   How do you, an arborist in a very high risk profession, prepare to respond to the many potential emergency situations associated with our daily tasks while working aloft? The answer is implementation of an Aerial Rescue and Emergency Response program and training. Aerial rescue can be very complex and requires ongoing training due to the varying dynamics and challenges we encounter at each and every jobsite. Rescues can be life threatening to the victim and rescuer and very physically and mentally challenging. Safe work practices through education and training should be a priority in avoiding having to perform an aerial rescue.   Emergency Preparedness A component of any aerial rescue plan should start with how well a crew is prepared to deal with an emergency situation. Are all your crew members trained in Basic First Aid and CPR? This training provides workers with the basics of emergency response. A pre-job briefing should serve as a forum to discuss the details of emergency preparedness at every jobsite. Identifying the possible rescue scenarios associated with the individual complexities and dynamics of the jobsite. Identifying hazards and mitigating risks such as overhead power lines or storm damaged trees. What about the importance of staging necessary equipment, tools, first aid kit, cell phone, radio, job location information, etc. where it will be most beneficial in the likelihood of an emergency, if you're working in a back yard that is inaccessible with a truck, it's vital to have these necessary items in the back yard with you readily available. Individual crew members should have clear instructions on what their responsibilities and contributions are in case of an emergency.   Performing a Rescue If the emergency warrants performing an aerial rescue the key objective is not to become a second victim. All too often a rescuer will rush to aid the victim only to become a victim themselves. This can be avoided by a careful assessment of the situation, the rescuer must evaluate the scene for safety prior to responding and at no time should the rescuer's life be in jeopardy. If the scene is not safe for the rescuer to enter, no rescue should be attempted until it has been determined safe to do so. A rescue scenario may prove to be life threatening beyond the limitations of the rescuer and limited to calling 911 and waiting for local emergency responders. A speedy extrication of the victim should not be a priority! The emphasis should be to assess, care for and stabilize the victim until EMT's arrive on the scene. Upon reaching the victim, assess and determine if there are life threatening injuries or circumstances such as no breathing and no pulse requiring life saving CPR or severe bleeding, in these instances a rapid extrication is warranted to get the victim to the ground to stabilize the condition. If you suspect the victim has a disabling injury such as a broken back or neck, do not move the victim, movement could cause more severe injuries, wait until EMT's arrive and provide further guidance.   Training I can't stress enough the importance of training and practice. Implementing a training program that focuses on the likely scenarios your crews will most encounter will provide a foundation of aerial rescue protocol. Practicing realistic scenarios by all crew personnel will lead to the development of efficient techniques which can be utilized in the event a recue needs to be carried out. Safety at all times should be the number one concern. Jesse Sanchez is an assistant trainer with North American Training Solutions, a Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, and educator located in Phoenix, AZ. Jesse may be reached via email at info@northamericantrainingsolutions.com.

Did You Know? To become credentialed as a Tree Worker, you must have a minimum of 18 months experience professionally climbing trees in a safe and efficient manner to perform tree care. Because it is also necessary to have proof of training in CPR, first aid, and aerial rescue, the two day Aerial Rescue and Emergency Response workshop that is being held on October 8-9, 2010 in Rio Rico will meet the qualifications for testing for your Tree Workers Certification by providing you with a Certificate of Completion for Aerial Rescue.