Rope Rescue Technician UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Acute Bad Judgement Syndrome - CORRECT ANSWER - Occurs when adventures don't
truly understand the consequences of their decisions
Take the time to do a reality check - CORRECT ANSWER - Don't overestimate your
groups ability, take the time to observe all facts, clues, ability level, and skill set before making a
"go or no go" decision
Maintain high situational awareness
Most common accidents in mountaineering: - CORRECT ANSWER - 1.) fall or slip on
rock
2.) fall or slip on snow or ice
3.) falling rock, ice, or object
Most frequent contributing causes to accidents in mountaineering: - CORRECT
ANSWER - 1.) climbing without ropes
2.) exceeding one's ability
3.) having an adequate equipment/clothing
4.) placing inadequate or no protection
5.) weather
Utilize checklists: - CORRECT ANSWER - Reduces errors and omissions in:
- technical procedures, and medical procedures
- deployment briefing's for permission profiles
- equipment checklist
,Safety - CORRECT ANSWER - Resounding theme of mountain rescue operations
+ personal safety = group safety
Minimizing risks: - CORRECT ANSWER - - pre-plan as much as you can
- conduct trailhead safety briefing so everyone understands the mission/goal
- use redundant systems or systems with belay lines
- conduct frequent reality checks
- utilize safety checks with checklists
- don't rush through your rigging; do it right and do it perfectly
- train hard so you can rescue easily
Decision making: - CORRECT ANSWER - 3 main types: heuristics, analytical, expertise
- perfect decision making doesn't exist
Heuristics - CORRECT ANSWER - -mental shortcuts or "rules of thumb" that we employ
to make decisions
Pitfalls of Heuristics: - CORRECT ANSWER - 1.) familiarity:
2.) acceptance:
3.) consistency/commitment
4.) expert halo
5.) track/scarcity
6.) social proof
Common mountaineering heuristics: - CORRECT ANSWER - - don't climb alone
- always wear a helmet
- climb within your ability level
,- get good beta on the route before heading out
- leave detailed itinerary with a reliable person
- stick to your itinerary
- establish "go, or no go" conditions
- establish a safe turnaround time
- don't travel solo on glaciers
- use two ropes when training
- system should pass "whistle test"
Analytical decision making: - CORRECT ANSWER - - breaking down a larger problem
into smaller more manageable ones
- conducting a risk/benefit analysis may be your best option
- works best when research backs decision
Common pitfalls of analytical decision making: - CORRECT ANSWER - - there may
often be unknown variables we may not recognize
- can be time consuming
- subconsciously biased
Expertise (intuition) decision making: - CORRECT ANSWER - - draw upon previous
experience to make decisions
- important to provide team with mission briefing explaining the problem and why specific
strategy was chosen
Extreme ownership in leadership: - CORRECT ANSWER - - never blame anyone else
- leaders ultimately responsible for the team and its actions
- if something goes wrong take accountability as the leader and figure out how to ensure it never
happens again
- requires effective communication, assigning roles, and trusting team to excel
, Mission clarity: - CORRECT ANSWER - - all members of the team support mission
- always communicate the "why"
- only 100% committed team members allowed
- only except the highest standards for your team
Check your ego: - CORRECT ANSWER - - live and die as a team
- no place for ego or glory
Cover and move: - CORRECT ANSWER - - rescues always uncertain
- mitigate risks and hazards to the best of your ability and trust in your team
- each teammate is an integral part
Keep things simple: - CORRECT ANSWER - - simple = clarity and understanding
- complexity = confusion and doubt
Decentralized command: - CORRECT ANSWER - - Delegating leadership to small teams
to get the job done
- don't micro manage and have trust
Manage up and manage down: - CORRECT ANSWER - - understand commands
perspective, needs, and wants
- keep leader in the loop
- communicate important goals, objectives, and the "why" down the chain of command
Discipline equals freedom - CORRECT ANSWER - - be the best leader and teammate you
can be
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Acute Bad Judgement Syndrome - CORRECT ANSWER - Occurs when adventures don't
truly understand the consequences of their decisions
Take the time to do a reality check - CORRECT ANSWER - Don't overestimate your
groups ability, take the time to observe all facts, clues, ability level, and skill set before making a
"go or no go" decision
Maintain high situational awareness
Most common accidents in mountaineering: - CORRECT ANSWER - 1.) fall or slip on
rock
2.) fall or slip on snow or ice
3.) falling rock, ice, or object
Most frequent contributing causes to accidents in mountaineering: - CORRECT
ANSWER - 1.) climbing without ropes
2.) exceeding one's ability
3.) having an adequate equipment/clothing
4.) placing inadequate or no protection
5.) weather
Utilize checklists: - CORRECT ANSWER - Reduces errors and omissions in:
- technical procedures, and medical procedures
- deployment briefing's for permission profiles
- equipment checklist
,Safety - CORRECT ANSWER - Resounding theme of mountain rescue operations
+ personal safety = group safety
Minimizing risks: - CORRECT ANSWER - - pre-plan as much as you can
- conduct trailhead safety briefing so everyone understands the mission/goal
- use redundant systems or systems with belay lines
- conduct frequent reality checks
- utilize safety checks with checklists
- don't rush through your rigging; do it right and do it perfectly
- train hard so you can rescue easily
Decision making: - CORRECT ANSWER - 3 main types: heuristics, analytical, expertise
- perfect decision making doesn't exist
Heuristics - CORRECT ANSWER - -mental shortcuts or "rules of thumb" that we employ
to make decisions
Pitfalls of Heuristics: - CORRECT ANSWER - 1.) familiarity:
2.) acceptance:
3.) consistency/commitment
4.) expert halo
5.) track/scarcity
6.) social proof
Common mountaineering heuristics: - CORRECT ANSWER - - don't climb alone
- always wear a helmet
- climb within your ability level
,- get good beta on the route before heading out
- leave detailed itinerary with a reliable person
- stick to your itinerary
- establish "go, or no go" conditions
- establish a safe turnaround time
- don't travel solo on glaciers
- use two ropes when training
- system should pass "whistle test"
Analytical decision making: - CORRECT ANSWER - - breaking down a larger problem
into smaller more manageable ones
- conducting a risk/benefit analysis may be your best option
- works best when research backs decision
Common pitfalls of analytical decision making: - CORRECT ANSWER - - there may
often be unknown variables we may not recognize
- can be time consuming
- subconsciously biased
Expertise (intuition) decision making: - CORRECT ANSWER - - draw upon previous
experience to make decisions
- important to provide team with mission briefing explaining the problem and why specific
strategy was chosen
Extreme ownership in leadership: - CORRECT ANSWER - - never blame anyone else
- leaders ultimately responsible for the team and its actions
- if something goes wrong take accountability as the leader and figure out how to ensure it never
happens again
- requires effective communication, assigning roles, and trusting team to excel
, Mission clarity: - CORRECT ANSWER - - all members of the team support mission
- always communicate the "why"
- only 100% committed team members allowed
- only except the highest standards for your team
Check your ego: - CORRECT ANSWER - - live and die as a team
- no place for ego or glory
Cover and move: - CORRECT ANSWER - - rescues always uncertain
- mitigate risks and hazards to the best of your ability and trust in your team
- each teammate is an integral part
Keep things simple: - CORRECT ANSWER - - simple = clarity and understanding
- complexity = confusion and doubt
Decentralized command: - CORRECT ANSWER - - Delegating leadership to small teams
to get the job done
- don't micro manage and have trust
Manage up and manage down: - CORRECT ANSWER - - understand commands
perspective, needs, and wants
- keep leader in the loop
- communicate important goals, objectives, and the "why" down the chain of command
Discipline equals freedom - CORRECT ANSWER - - be the best leader and teammate you
can be
