Which Harness for rescue class

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I agree with those who say to train as you dive, although it would not be unreasonable to incorporate a quick release to "simulate cutting". But rather than getting something expensive like a dive rite deluxe, just get another 10 feet of 2" webbing a 2" fastex buckle from EMS or REI and a couple of tri glides.
 
The one skill that is a major PITA with a hog harness is the "tow and peel". Your instructor is totally right. Without a quick release this is very difficult, assuming *you* are being the victim. In a real world situation you would have to cut the harness.

So ... you have two choices. Either get/borrow/re-config your gear so you have a quick release on at least one side or use an old harness and *let* your buddy cut you out of it. That will be instructional for both your and your buddy but of course you'll only be able to do the skill as victim once and at the very end. You'll need to be done all of your scenarios first and if your buddy needs to repeat it they'll have to do it with someone else.

R..
 
For the rescue scenarios where you are the victim it's simple for the person rescuing you to say "OK, I'm cutting him out of his rig - CUT CUT CUT" and then the exercise is put on "pause" for a second while you help squirm out of your gear before resuming your role as an unresponsive diver at the surface.

I suppose you could do that but I don't like it. Personally, I like to keep the scenarios as realistic as possible. In the real world you don't yell "CUT CUT CUT". In the real world if that's your victim you're blood pressure is way up, you heart rate is way up and your victim probably at least looks dead and is probably ejecting pink froth from their mouth, which for some of the people may even be the first time they've seen anyone in that state.

I, personally, want my students to feel that. I want their blood pressure up. I want them to feel the fear. I'll even float behind them screaming GO GO GO GO - YOUR VICTIM IS DYING MOVE MOVE MOVE while I expect to hear them fighting through that and calmly saying ONE-ONETHOUSAND TWO-ONETHOUSAND...

I do this just to create this effect of what a real rescue FEELS like to the rescuer, which is a million times worse than having someone behind you screaming at you. I want them to have to fumble around for their shears while holding the victims head with one hand and hoping he doesn't drift away. I want them to *really* *learn* that doing a peel and tow isn't nearly as simple in real life as they think.

So yeah, it can be made like a Sunday drive but I don't like it.

If I were the instructor and someone came to rescue with a hog harness I'd be totally ok with that (I wear one myself) but they'd have to be ok with having it cut.

R..

Edit: BTW, I should make clear that there is a time to make the scenarios as real as possible. Obviously you can't teach them the mechanics by screaming at them but we pop a "surprise scenario" on them that's not in the planning and not briefed and that's when we make it as real as we can. IN fact, we have to put up a board saying RESCUE EXCERCISE before we start because the scenarios can be realistic enough that we've actually had bystanders call 911. LOL

R..
 
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I agree with those who say to train as you dive, although it would not be unreasonable to incorporate a quick release to "simulate cutting". But rather than getting something expensive like a dive rite deluxe, just get another 10 feet of 2" webbing a 2" fastex buckle from EMS or REI and a couple of tri glides.

I think this is the best compromise for me. I can rig my HOG with a quick release without cutting the webbing and just familiarize my buddy with the setup. This way they can just pop the strap and get 8 or so inches of space in the left strap to aide in slipping out. Should also make getting into and out of my own system a little more friendly in my dry suit should I like the configuration.

Thanks for all the help guys....
 
This is my setup with a single clip in the left armpit

IMG_1252.jpg


One 2" fastex clip and one s/s triglide is used to create a loop of webbing like this

IMG_1251.jpg


I know it's not Hog (even without the stripy webbing) but it makes RIB diving so much easier
 
I have the same set-up Druid. Ony pink not stripey.
 
I would also recommend using the rig you normally dive. I don't think your current setup would be a detriment to the class, but more of an enhancement. This would allow all involved to experience different types of gear and the issues that come along with adapting to what you are facing. I recently completed the rescue class and was by far the best training I have had to date. If you don't train to use all types of gear you will not perform as well in a real world rescue situation. Remember that our body and mind functions differently when placed under intense stress - like a rescue. You cannot expect to rise to the occassion, but are more likely to sink(no pun intended) to the level of your training! Talk all opportunities to practice and stay familiar with rescue techniques. Train Train Train
 
Webbing is cheap. Why not just sacrifice a piece for the class and let your partner cut you out of the harness like they would in a real emergency.
 
Webbing is cheap. Why not just sacrifice a piece for the class and let your partner cut you out of the harness like they would in a real emergency.

good idea in theory, but in practice, a cut harness is unuseable and ends your diving until you relace it. Hence my idea of adding a buckle for the class for "simulated cutting" which can then be 'un-cut"
 
There are two issues; one is wearing a hog harness as the victim, and the other is wearing the hog harness as a rescuer in the tow/rescue breathe/remove gear drill. For the victim part, I would say just wear a BC. It'll be better practice for the other students who are far more likely to have to remove someone's BC than hog harness, simply due to the far higher numbers of divers wearing BCs.

For the other, again, removing your own gear is a low priority in real-life situations and the whole concept of providing rescue breaths to an unconscious diver while towing is being re-considered in favor of just getting the victim out of the water as fast as possible. So I personally would not sweat it either way, maybe try the scenario in both set ups, especially if you're going on to DM and will need to do a rescue demonstration. I think the issues are more about the class and less about actual rescue situations.
 
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