(8 hr) High Angle Rope Emergencies – HOT

Course Description

This 8-hour Hands-On Training (HOT) refresher course is designed for firefighters and rescuers who already possess basic rope rescue knowledge and want to sharpen, refresh, and reinforce their operational rope rescue skills through realistic hands-on training and repetition-based evolutions.

This course focuses on building confidence, increasing efficiency, and reinforcing sound rope rescue fundamentals through practical application and team-based scenarios. Students will review rope rescue equipment, knots, anchor systems, lowering and raising operations, edge transitions, patient packaging, and operational problem solving in high angle environments.

The emphasis of this program is not on lengthy classroom lectures, but on hands-on drill work, repetition, communication, and realistic rescue operations. Students will rotate through multiple practical evolutions designed to refresh muscle memory, improve teamwork, and identify areas needing continued development within their own rope rescue programs.

This course is ideal for departments and technical rescue teams looking to maintain operational readiness, reinforce NFPA-based rope rescue competencies, and expose personnel to realistic rescue scenarios in a controlled training environment.

Course Objectives

• Refresh and reinforce core rope rescue skills and operational concepts.
• Demonstrate proper inspection, handling, and use of rope rescue equipment.
• Construct and operate basic anchor systems and edge protection systems.
• Demonstrate proficiency with commonly used rescue knots and rope management techniques.
• Perform lowering and raising operations utilizing practical field applications.
• Demonstrate patient packaging and litter movement techniques.
• Reinforce communication and teamwork during technical rescue operations.
• Identify operational hazards and apply safe work practices during high angle incidents.
• Participate in realistic, scenario-based high angle rescue evolutions.
• Improve operational efficiency through repetition-based practical training.

Course Details

• Hours: 8
• Maximum Students: 25
• Prerequisites: Rope Rescue Technician or equivalent
• Practical Skills Sheets Available: n

Standards & JPRs

• Associated NFPA Standard(s) & Edition(s): 2500
• NFPA Chapter(s): 5
• Associated JPRs: 5.3.0 and 5.4

Equipment & Training Props

• Student Equipment / PPE: Class 3 Rope Rescue Harness, Helmet, Gloves
• Host Agency Equipment / Props: Basic High Angle Rope Rescue Cache
• Vendor-Supplied Training Props: (2) High Angle Rope Rescue Caches