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With over 13 000 high-rise buildings and growing
building developing industry in
Ontario there is no specialty trained highrise rope rescue
team from the construction trade to respond efficiently
in case of emergency to inaccessible places. Events, such
as the Skyway Bridge in St. Catherines in 1993 and other
rope access related incidents have shown that lives could
have been saved if such a team existed. It is crucial to
be prepared for the unexpected.
Accidents have become more complicated. The solution for
prevention and efficient
response to these accidents is to organize an emergency
response team that is trained and
equipped specifically for this task. This could be a team
of highly qualified professionals
and workers with knowledge in Rigging and Rope Rescue, First
Aid, Communications
and By-laws, who would meet on a regular basis to discuss,
upgrade, practice and teach
safety, rescue and emergency procedures in conjunction with
other emergency services.
Because the situation changes from building to building
or bridge to bridge, it's crucial
that this team is prepared to perform in the most unpredictable
environment. In the case
of an emergency, they would be called anywhere, any time,
and with the cooperation of
the emergency services or on its own, would commence a High
Angle rescue operation.
In no time, the rescuers can descend if necessary on the
site where the accident has taken
place and videotape the site or any details for the investigation.
Living on the edge is what 'ropers' do for a living. With
an industry, being ranked as one
of the most dangerous, I want to give the workers a second
chance and safer future.
Therefore, I am currently organizing the Eiger H. E. A.
R. T. (Highrise Emergency Aerial
Rescue Team), an independent non-profit organization that
consists solely of highly
qualified professionals. We are, by necessity, cost effective
and efficient.
Our purpose is to save and protect lives, reduce suffering
and assist in the reduction of the devastating aftermath
caused by catastrophic events in the high-rise environment.
The main objective of the Eiger H. E. A. R. T. is to enhance
public safety through rescue
and safety education, provide emergency response and assist
in providing post-accident
report (with laptops, digital cameras and communications
systems on-site) to accidents in
inaccessible places. Eiger is preparing an Emergency Preparedness
and Response Plan for
project and property managers, and Accident Prevention Programs
for rope access
workers. We are currently in the process of establishing
a High-rise Rope Rescue
Institute and an International Rope Rescue Multimedia Database.
Our technical rescue teams have the skills necessary for
high-angle and high-altitude rope
rescue operations. Beyond that Eiger members strive to develop
technical innovative
concepts and advanced skills in the use of high-tech equipment
and communications.
Letters
of appreciation:
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