3 replies to this topic

[ducttapedave]

So I'm thinking about putting together a training day for my local volunteer search and rescue organization. There aren't a lot of skills in this group. Soup sandwich would describe a lot of the members honestly. 

But even Rome was a hovel once. I figured I would do my part to try and build people up with some practical skills. I am not putting together a High Angle or Low Angle Rescue course. This is more aimed at understanding basic knot work, terms, a handful of essential knots that could cover a lot of the basics of what you might encounter in the field. 

 

1) Square Knot

2) Bowline or Figure 8

3) Clove Hitch

4) Round turn with 2 half hitches

5) Alpine Butterfly

6) Prussick

7) Sheet Bend

 

What are some of the knots that you would consider indispensable?

 

What are some pieces of information you wish would have been passed on to you when you first started out? 

 

 

[mangeface]

Bowline and prussick. The 2 I use the most.

[pira114]

Bowline and prussick. The 2 I use the most.

These and the square are about all I can remember using much. They'll cover about everything you need in SAR

[ducttapedave]

I've started using double figure 8s around a bight more than a bowline lately. It's a lot easier to check at a distance to make sure the knot has been tied correctly. I was volunteering at a High Rise rappel fund raiser a bit ago and was amazed at how the SWAT teams knots were tied. Ugly. They were effective but ugly. If a figure 8 is pretty it's going to hold. 

 

I also made a practice rig at home with a hitching rail to work knots. I tried to throw a picture of it up a while ago but I still have not yet managed to figure out how to upload pictures. 

 

Of course it could just all break down into lets make para-cord jewellery.