Blog Archives

One Knowledge Base Built Around Different Ways of Learning

Lance Piatt / Blog, Designing Your Processes

Technical rescue training does not happen in one format. A rescuer may need a structured lesson one day, a video demonstration the next, and a technical illustration or downloadable reference during a later review. A training officer may need something different altogether: a way to organize concepts, reinforce instruction, support team development, and connect field […]

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Monopod Supported Skate Block Track Line Systems

How to Calculate Back Tie Force on a Leaning Monopod

Lance Piatt / Anchors, Arizona Vortex, Artificial High Directional AHD, Blog, Elevated Anchor Systems, Portable Anchors

“How do you calculate potential force on a back tie? Today we rigged a leaning monopod setup. I did my best to keep my guy angle wider than my resultant angle, but I was wondering if there’s a way to estimate what the guy would see as they get closer to the same angle.” —

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Inside Rigging Lab Academy CORE

Lance Piatt / Blog, Designing Your Processes, Online Training Education, Team Competencies, Technical Learning

CORE was built to solve that problem. Instead of treating courses, videos, illustrations, reports, podcasts, and study tools as separate products, CORE organizes them as different ways into the same knowledge base. The subject may be anchors, mechanical advantage, mainline systems, horizontal rigging, high directionals, litter operations, or program leadership. What changes is not the

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Floating Litter Operations on Tensioned Track Line Systems

Lance Piatt / Arizona Vortex, Artificial High Directional AHD, Blog, Elevated Anchor Systems, Horizontal Rigging, Litter Operations, Offset Track Line, Tracking Lines, Twin Tension Rope System

Floating Litter Operations on Tensioned Track Line Systems Moving a patient through steep terrain often creates a conflict between control and efficiency. Ground-based litter movement can expose rescuers to unstable footing, vegetation, loose rock, and changing slope angles. Fully suspended systems eliminate terrain contact but may require more complex rigging and operational coordination. Floating litter

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Sideways A-Frame Systems for Vertical Positioning and Horizontal Control

Sideways A-Frame Offset System for Vertical Positioning and Horizontal Control

Lance Piatt / Anchoring, Arizona Vortex, Artificial High Directional AHD, Blog, Dynamic Directional, Elevated Anchor Systems, Portable Anchors, Tracking Lines, Twin Tension Rope System, Two Rope Offsets

Dynamic Directional Offsets and Active Load Positioning Offset systems are often described as methods for moving a load away from a cliff face or obstacle. While that description is technically correct, it does not fully explain the operational value of a dynamic offset. Unlike fixed transportation systems that move a load along a predetermined path,

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Directional Frame Raises and Edge Transition Management

Lance Piatt / Anchoring, Arizona Vortex, Artificial High Directional AHD, Blog, Twin Tension Rope System, Two Tensioned Rope Rescue Systems

Directional Frame Raises and Edge Transition Management Vertical rescue operations often focus on the raising system itself. Mechanical advantage, hauling efficiency, and load control frequently dominate the discussion. Yet many difficult raises are not defined by what happens below the edge. They are defined by what happens when the load reaches it. The edge transition

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Monopod Supported Skate Block Track Line Systems

Lance Piatt / Artificial High Directional AHD, Blog, Dynamic Directional, Skate Blocks, Tracking Lines, Twin Tension Rope System, Two (Twin) Tension Rope Systems, Two Rope Offsets

Monopod Supported Skate Block Track Line Systems Track line systems are frequently used when rescuers need to move personnel, equipment, or litter loads across terrain that cannot be negotiated safely on foot. While the track line itself provides the movement corridor, the effectiveness of the system often depends on how the rope path is managed

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Hybrid High Directional Systems for Vertical and Horizontal Rescue Operations

Lance Piatt / Blog, Designing Your Processes, Dynamic Directional, Elevated Anchor Systems, Litter Operations, Mainline Systems and Operations, Portable Anchors, Team Competencies, Two (Twin) Tension Rope Systems, Two Tensioned Rope Rescue Systems, Uncategorized

Hybrid High-Directional Systems for Vertical and Horizontal Rescue Operations Technical rescue systems are often categorized by their primary function. Some systems are designed to manage vertical movement. Others are designed to support horizontal transportation. Complex terrain, however, rarely presents a single movement problem. Rescuers may need to raise a patient from below a cliff edge,

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Two Tensioned Rope Systems and Tensioned Track Line Transitions in Canyon Rescue

Lance Piatt / Blog, Elevated Anchor Systems, Litter Operations, Offset Track Line, Portable Anchors, Twin Tension Rope System

From Two-Tensioned Rope Systems to Tensioned Track Lines Managing Redundancy, Load Sharing, and System Transitions in Canyon Rescue Technical rescue operations rarely fail because rescuers cannot build a lowering system. They fail because rescuers lose control of force during transitions. This becomes especially apparent in canyon environments where a rescue may begin as a vertical

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Litters and Litter Rigging Understanding the Rescue Transport System

Lance Piatt / Blog, Litter Operations, Patient Packaging

Litters and Litter Rigging Patient packaging and patient transportation are closely connected, yet they are not the same task. A patient may be properly positioned, restrained, and protected within a litter, but those efforts alone do not guarantee a successful rescue. Once packaging is complete, the challenge shifts from preparing the patient to moving the

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Patient Packaging Building a Transport-Ready Patient for Technical Rescue

Lance Piatt / Blog, Litter Operations, Patient Packaging

Patient packaging is the bridge between patient care and technical rescue. Before a litter is attached to a rope system, before a haul team begins raising, and before a lowering operation moves over an edge, rescuers must first address a more immediate concern: preparing the patient for transportation. The technical rescue environment introduces forces, movement,

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Why Pulley Selection Matters More Than Most Rescue Teams Realize

Lance Piatt / Blog, Pulley Systems, Pulleys & Mechanical Advantage, Uncategorized

Why Pulley Selection Matters More Than Most Rescue Teams Realize Most rescue personnel learn pulleys through mechanical advantage systems. A 3:1 contains a certain number of pulleys. A 5:1 contains a few more. Eventually, the conversation moves toward hauling efficiency, progress capture, and system resets. While those discussions are important, they often leave one critical

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The Hidden Role of Rescue Harness Design in Technical Rope Systems

Lance Piatt / Blog, Harnesses

In technical rescue, harnesses are often treated as static pieces of personal protective equipment. In reality, the harness becomes the central interface between the rescuer and the entire rope system. Every ascent, descent, edge transition, positioning movement, litter operation, and directional shift passes through that platform. The harness is not merely something a rescuer wears.

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Why Growing Rescue Programs Use RLA CORE Squad

Lance Piatt / Blog, Designing Your Processes, How-To Concepts, Online Training Education, Personal Competencies, Principles of Learning, Professional Standards

Squad Is Where Rescue Training Stops Being Informal Most rescue organizations begin with motivated individuals. A few strong technicians train consistently, absorb outside instruction, attend conferences, build systems together, and gradually become the operational backbone of the team. Over time, these individuals start carrying increasing responsibility inside the organization. One person becomes the training officer.

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Why Rescue Departments Use RLA CORE Team for Operational Consistency

Lance Piatt / Blog, Designing Your Processes, FAQ-Frequently Asked Questions, How-To Concepts, Online Training Education, Personal Competencies

As Rescue Organizations Grow, Training Drift Multiplies Small crews can often maintain consistency through close operational proximity. Team members train together regularly, communicate frequently, and naturally reinforce each other’s understanding over time. Once organizations begin scaling beyond that size, the challenge changes completely. Different shifts begin developing different habits. Instructors emphasize different priorities. Operational terminology

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Why Small Rescue Crews Use RLA CORE for Technical Rescue Consistency

Lance Piatt / Blog, Designing Your Processes, How-To Concepts, Online Training Education, Personal Competencies, Team Competencies

Small Rescue Crews Operate Differently Than Large Departments Most small rescue teams do not have the luxury of large training divisions, dedicated instructional staff, or personnel assigned to a single operational discipline. Crew members often wear multiple hats. The same person handling anchors during one evolution may transition into edge operations, litter management, haul systems,

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Why Individual Rescuers Choose RLA CORE Essentials for Rope Rescue Training

Lance Piatt / Blog, Designing Your Processes, FAQ-Frequently Asked Questions, Online Training Education, Personal Competencies

RLA CORE Essentials Was Built for the Individual Rescuer Not every rescuer trains inside a large department with unlimited resources, dedicated instructors, or highly structured operational development. Many technicians are responsible for building their own competency outside of scheduled drills, annual refreshers, or occasional certification courses. That reality creates a problem. Without a consistent training

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Why Teams Choose RLA CORE for Technical Rescue Training

Lance Piatt / Blog, Designing Your Processes, Personal Competencies

Why Rescue Teams Are Moving Toward Structured CORE Training Most rescue teams do not struggle because they lack effort. They struggle because knowledge becomes fragmented over time. Different instructors teach different methods. Team members develop habits based on local culture rather than system logic. Equipment changes faster than operational understanding. Eventually, even experienced teams begin

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Anchors and Anchor Systems in Rope Rescue

Lance Piatt / Anchoring, Anchors, Arizona Vortex, Artificial High Directional AHD, Blog, Elevated Anchor Systems, Portable Anchors

Sign Up for Free E-Book Anchors and Anchor Systems in Rope Rescue Every rope rescue system begins with one decision: what will hold the load? Before the haul systems, before the litter movement, before the edge transition, there is the anchor. It is the structural foundation that determines whether the entire operation functions smoothly or

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Litter Operations and Patient Evacuation in Technical Rescue

Lance Piatt / Blog, Designing Your Processes, Litter Operations, Mainline Systems and Operations, Mechanical Advantage, Pickoffs

Sign Up for Free E-Book Litter Operations and Patient Evacuation in Technical Rescue Technical rescue environments rarely fail because of a lack of gear. More often, they fail because teams underestimate movement, terrain transitions, communication breakdowns, or the physical demands of transporting a patient through difficult ground. Litter operations sit at the center of all

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