UKC

Could someone with current IRATA quals get in touch with me regarding first aid

In reply to Removed User: bump.Its important

In reply to Removed User: irata level 1 but might be able to help whats up ?

In reply to Removed User: Can you tell me what the recovery position for someone found hanging in a full body harness would be.is it lie down for 30 mins or sit up .Thanks

In reply to Removed User: as far as I can remember its to sit the casualty upright knees towards there chest something to do with toxic blood running back towards the heart. would also depend what type of full body harness there wearing if its a rope access full body sit harness then the casualty shoudnt be suffering trauma to the same extent as someone hanging in a normal fall arrest harness ie scaffolders, steel erectors etc

In reply to Removed User: thanks

In reply to Removed User:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/harness.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr708.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr708.pdf

The biggest issue with suspension trauma seems to be squaring the theoretical danger and experimental evidence thereof with the marked lack of serious incidents in practice. Until there is an answer to that one, my vote, in the light of the potential severity, is for caution, thorough risk assessment, careful PPE selection and training for the worst.

In reply to Removed User:

Depends on the harness type and construction.

If they are hanging from the dorsal point of a basic fall arrest harness (Petzl Newton) then I would say stand up ...but they might be unconscious, and the blood in the lower legs will have pooled and become toxic, and the legs need to have the continual pressure applied as the harness did and then you have to get the med team to drain the blood and filter it .......one of my doctor friends explained the procedure!

However if they have been hanging from the sternal point in a full harness (Petzl Navaho) then they will be ok by comparison!