The Technical Rescue Unit is one of eleven specialty units that make up the Sheriff's Search and Rescue Bureau.

Each of our unit members goes through Rescue Specialist training. It is a 32-hour in-house class held once a year to teach the basics of rope rescue. The topics covered include anchor systems, hardware and software, knots and improvised harness tying, belaying, rappelling, raising and lowering systems, low angle rescue, litter tending, and the Incident Command System as it applies to rope rescue. The certification is good for one year. Other groups that have participated in our class include the Border Patrol's BORSTAR rescue team and the San Diego Mountain Rescue Team.

TRAINING

Rope rescue involves an element of risk so we strive to minimize it through constant practice and repetition. The unit trains once a month in some element of rope rescue to maintain proficiency. During a typical training we practice doing victim pickoffs, litter work, rappelling, raising and lowering systems, low angle systems, etc.

We've developed a short 6-8 hour first responder class in how to access a subject down a steep embankment, such as when a car goes over a guardrail. The class covers gear, knots, improvised harnesses, anchors, rappelling, and ropewalking. Just enough so that you, as a first responder, can safely and expediently access an accident subject in steep terrain.