Aerial Rescue NZ for Tree Climbers and Arborist professionals

All forms of tree climbing should always be practised with up-to-date knowledge of how to perform an aerial rescue nz, including all hobby and sports climbing and the professional and commercial aspects of tree climbing. By its very nature, tree climbing is an ‘at height’ activity that can have innumerable dangers – some seen on the ground, some seen in the canopy and many that happen during the act of tree climbing.

For the recreational tree climber possibly the most common danger will be falling deadwood and unsafe anchor points. For the commercial arborist these also apply but the risks increase with the use of cutting equipment and the rigging of large pieces of timber. However it is not all doom and gloom, as most of the dangers can be isolated or minimized with a correct and thorough risk assessment prior to climbing or to work procedures commencing. Aerial rescue nz knowledge is an important skill for any climber to have mastered before climbing.

What is an aerial rescue NZ?

Aerial rescue nz is the safe removal of an injured climber from within the canopy of a tree and down to the ground where appropriate first aid can be given. There are many stages and levels of aerial rescue nz with the most basic and preferable being the self rescue by the injured climber themselves. As long as the climber’s rope is long enough for a safe descent to the ground, most injuries will still allow the climber to descend by operating their hitch cord/mechanical device one handed. At the other end of the spectrum, we have a potential major back injury that occurs within the tree’s crown and may involve a gurney/litter and a whole team of aerial technicians to extricate the injured party via aerial rescue nz. Possibly the most common injury for a working arborist aloft will be a handsaw or chainsaw cut, and this may need a rescue climber to ascend into the tree to the injured climber to assist in aerial first aid and also enable the climber to safely descend without causing more injury to themselves. This no doubt will always be a very high stress situation for all involved and the potential for more problems is always high due to elevated levels of adrenaline.

Planning your aerial rescue NZ

Training for these situations is the only way to lower these risks. Having a pre installed access line for the rescue climber will shave precious minutes off a potential aerial rescue and also keep the injured climber feeling secure as they know help is close at hand. Communication between staff at all times will ensure that help arrives swiftly, and a properly practiced aerial rescue plan will limit the chances of more mistakes happening during the rescue.

Simplicity and practice for your aerial rescue NZ

The rescue should always be as basic as the situation will allow – chainsaw injuries will always be nasty and are an inherent risk for the climbing arborist. A complex set up and a panicking climber are not a good situation. Use only techniques that you have practiced thoroughly beforehand, practice them with your whole team as often as you can – you will never get too efficient at them! As always though, prevention is always better than cure and planning your climb throughout the tree thoroughly and paying attention to the smallest of things will help prevent an aerial rescue ever being needed. Never climb if your risk assessment deems a tree to be too risky. Save yourself so you can climb another day. No tree is worth a major injury, to yourself or your crew.