What is the best method for extraction of injured personnel from a well, with minimal equipment, when there are no anchor points available?
I am currently serving in an extremely arid region of Afghanistan, and have been charged with creating my unit's SOP for rescue from wells, and other similar situations. The wells here are between 0.5m - 2m across, and up to 40+ meters deep (hard for us to tell when they are deeper than that!). They are also, sometimes, covered with thin plywood, and very hard to see at night. Hence the need for a plan.
The main issues arise from the wells' depth, and the fact that there is sometimes nothing at all around them to rig an anchor to. The surroundings are commonly dust, sand, and small scrub brush for hundreds of meters. In addition, any personnel down the well would likely have 100+lbs of gear on them, some of it easily removable, but some very hard in a tight space.
We are light infantry, so the equipment we carry is very limited. We have the ropes, webbing, and belaying/repelling gear, but nothing else very useful besides rucksack frames and Skedco litters (rolled up hard plastic).
I've had a few thoughts, but I am looking for fresh ideas.
Thanks
I am currently serving in an extremely arid region of Afghanistan, and have been charged with creating my unit's SOP for rescue from wells, and other similar situations. The wells here are between 0.5m - 2m across, and up to 40+ meters deep (hard for us to tell when they are deeper than that!). They are also, sometimes, covered with thin plywood, and very hard to see at night. Hence the need for a plan.
The main issues arise from the wells' depth, and the fact that there is sometimes nothing at all around them to rig an anchor to. The surroundings are commonly dust, sand, and small scrub brush for hundreds of meters. In addition, any personnel down the well would likely have 100+lbs of gear on them, some of it easily removable, but some very hard in a tight space.
We are light infantry, so the equipment we carry is very limited. We have the ropes, webbing, and belaying/repelling gear, but nothing else very useful besides rucksack frames and Skedco litters (rolled up hard plastic).
I've had a few thoughts, but I am looking for fresh ideas.
Thanks