Helpful Online Resources (in no particular order)
Proceedings of the International Technical Rescue Symposium (ITRS)
ITRS is an annual meeting where individuals and research groups present their observational, empirical, and experimental research related to technical rescue. The annual proceedings are the most recent research regarding rope rescue and should be browsed through annually at a minimum by those who are professional rescuers.Frequently the research generated is also of interest to sport users, so recreational rope users may find many of the studies of significant value. Fortunately ITRS archives abstracts, papers, presentations, and some data presented by some authors, so the archives are a goldmine of useful articles, data, and citations. The ‘papers’ page is searchable by author, year, and content to make surfing the archives more convenient. Find it online here: http://itrsonline.org/papers/
The Nylon Highway
The Nylon Highway is a periodical printed by the National Speleological Society (NSS) devoted to the development of SRT skills as well as rescue skills. For both the professional and recreational rope user, these archives are invaluable in learning up to date methods, as well as explain why other techniques were abandoned. If you ever wanted to understand how some of the gear you use was developed, read the Nylon Highway. My advice to most users is to read as many issues of the Nylon Highway as you can. It covers the development of equipment, personal SRT systems, rescue topics,and accident reports. It will help you learn how to think about problems and respect those that developed equipment and techniques in the past. Find it online here: www.caves.org/section/vertical/nylhi.html
Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino E Speleologico, 2015, Cave Rescue Techniques, Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico, Milano, Italy
If you are interested in cave rescue, download or buy this book. This is a well written, well-illustrated guide to cave rescue techniques in Italy. This is the English translation of the next book on this list, and is a welcome inclusion to the rigging guides for cave rescue. The rigging philosophy presented in this book is markedly different than that used in the United States, so readers in the US should be aware they are working from a different set of assumptions. As such, this is a really good book to read to get a different perspective on cave rigging. The techniques employed are all based on one system (with some variations), and that system relies heavily on bolting. Generally the techniques are gear intensive, and often put high forces on the anchors. This can partially be explained because the book is written to train people in callout cave rescue, rather than smaller party rescue techniques. There is also a reliance on ascenders in the system for progress capture rather than soft interfaces (e.g., prusiks). As such, the techniques described here do require a higher basal rope proficiency than techniques taught in the US. With all that said, it is a great book that cave rescuers should certainly own.
https://formazione.cnsas.it/download/handbook/caving-rescue/
https://formazione.cnsas.it/download/handbook/caving-rescue/
Federation Francaise De Speleologie, 2014, L'utilisation des techniques <<legeres.. en speleology, Les Cahiers De L'E.F.S. No. 14
This is an exceptionally short book designed to show new French cavers the basics of vertical caving. It does not have extensive text or step by step instructions, rather it is a list of skills people can use to remember what they have learned. Given that the French have a caving school, this is really meant as a reminder to students what they learned in their classes. As such, I think it is a great addition to a cavers library, but is not that important when it comes to "must have" books for new cavers because it lacks the training component that can be found in other texts.
http://www.efs.ffspeleo.fr/index.php/component/phocadownload/category/1-cahiers-efs#
http://www.efs.ffspeleo.fr/index.php/component/phocadownload/category/1-cahiers-efs#
Scuola Nazionale Tecnici di Soccorso Speleologico, 2015, Cave Rescue Techniques (English Translation of an Italian cave rescue text)
If you are interested in cave rescue, download this book. This is a well written, well-illustrated guide to cave rescue techniques in Italy. It is now available in English. The rigging philosophy presented in this book is markedly different than that used in the United States, so readers in the US should be aware they are working from a different set of assumptions. As such, this is a really good book to read to get a different perspective on cave rigging. The techniques employed are all based on one system (with some variations), and that system relies heavily on bolting. Generally the techniques are gear intensive, and often put high forces on the anchors. There is also a reliance on ascenders in the system for progress capture rather than soft interfaces (e.g., prusiks). As such, the techniques described here do require a higher basal rope proficiency than techniques taught in the US. With all that said, it is a great book that cave rescuers should certainly own.
http://formazione.cnsas.it/download/handbook/caving-rescue/
http://formazione.cnsas.it/download/handbook/caving-rescue/
Merchant, D. F., 2002/2003, Life on a Line: A manual of modern cave rescue ropework techniques
This is the first edition of Life on a Line, and it is well worth the read. The second edition is far better than the first, however, it is instructive to see the progression in thought the authors experienced between the two drafts. Life on a Line is a cave rescue text covering the techniques used in cave rescues in the UK. Many of the methods are the same, some are different. This text provides a refreshingly different rescue philosophy than that espoused by most rescuers in the United States. As such this is a useful read for those steeped in North American rescue techniques. You can get this online for free here:
www.speleo.no/redning/Life%20on%20a%20line%20part1.pdf
www.speleo.no/redning/Life%20on%20a%20line%20part2.pdf
www.speleo.no/redning/Life%20on%20a%20line%20part3.pdf
www.speleo.no/redning/Life%20on%20a%20line%20part1.pdf
www.speleo.no/redning/Life%20on%20a%20line%20part2.pdf
www.speleo.no/redning/Life%20on%20a%20line%20part3.pdf
Warild, A., 2007, Vertical: A Technical Manual for Cavers, Fifth Edition, Published by Alan Warild, Newton, Australia
This book is the Australian equivalent to On Rope and Alpine Caving Techniques. It is practical, well written, and covers a different rigging philosophy to that in On Rope. While it is written for cavers, it is accessible and covers equipment more commonly found in other portions of the world, and as such, it is a useful addition to a riggers library.
http://cavediggers.com/vertical/
http://cavediggers.com/vertical/
Laidlaw, K.N., 2016, Considerations for Rope Rescue in 2016
This is a simple and easy to read work that provides details of a common rescue system used across much of North America. The methods are classic, and the text will likely become a classic as well, so is a must have in a rescuer's library.
Considerations for Rope Rescue in 2016:
http://sarconsiderations.com/documents/Considerations%20for%20Rope%20Rescue%20-%20042216.pdf
Considerations for Rope Rescue in 2012:
http://sarconsiderations.com/documents/Considerations%20for%20Rope%20Rescue%20in%202012.pdf
The text has seen multiple revisions, which can be accessed on line as well:
Considerations For Rope Rescue in 2009:
http://www.mcftoa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Considerations-of-Rope-Rescue-2009.pdf
Considerations For Rope Rescue in 2002:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/41314344/Rope-Rescue-2002
Considerations for Rope Rescue in 2016:
http://sarconsiderations.com/documents/Considerations%20for%20Rope%20Rescue%20-%20042216.pdf
Considerations for Rope Rescue in 2012:
http://sarconsiderations.com/documents/Considerations%20for%20Rope%20Rescue%20in%202012.pdf
The text has seen multiple revisions, which can be accessed on line as well:
Considerations For Rope Rescue in 2009:
http://www.mcftoa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Considerations-of-Rope-Rescue-2009.pdf
Considerations For Rope Rescue in 2002:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/41314344/Rope-Rescue-2002
The Use of Light Techniques in Speloeology (L'utilisation des techniques <<legeres>> en speleologie)
This is a short book in French that covers simple light rigging concepts for caving. The French caving federation (the E.F.S.) posted it on line for anyone to access. It can be downloaded from this page:
http://www.efs.ffspeleo.fr/index.php/component/phocadownload/category/1-cahiers-efs#
Or downloaded directly Here and Here.
The full citation is:
Federation Francaise De Speleologie, 2014, L'utilization des techniques <<legeres>> en speleology, Les Cahiers De L'E.F.S. No. 14
http://www.efs.ffspeleo.fr/index.php/component/phocadownload/category/1-cahiers-efs#
Or downloaded directly Here and Here.
The full citation is:
Federation Francaise De Speleologie, 2014, L'utilization des techniques <<legeres>> en speleology, Les Cahiers De L'E.F.S. No. 14
Other useful web pages
Open Access Web Pages (free)
http://journalofsar.org/
http://www.peakinstruction.com/blog/testing/
http://rope-work-101.wikidot.com/
http://www.jrre.org/
http://www.allaboutrope.com/
http://www.bwrs.org.au/?q=research
http://user.xmission.com/~tmoyer/testing/
http://rescuedynamics.ca/
http://www.whitewater-rescue.com/main.asp
http://www.paci.com.au/downloads_public.php
http://efclimbers.net/further-reading/
http://kristinandjerry.name/cmru/rescue_info/
http://www.swiftwaterrescue.at/content/info.html
http://personal.strath.ac.uk/andrew.mclaren/Projects.htm
http://www.oterescue.co.nz/page/tech-toolbox/
https://www.fsi.illinois.edu/content/research/papers.cfm
http://canyoncollective.com/
http://beverlymountainguides.com/research/
http://www.speleocrasc.it/ (in Italian)
http://www.caimateriali.org/homepage.html
http://www.caipadova.it/
http://efs.ffspeleo.fr/index.php/documentation/publications-techniques-get
Subscription Based (must pay a fee for much of the content)
http://www.ropelab.com.au/
http://www.desertrescue.com/
http://journalofsar.org/
http://www.peakinstruction.com/blog/testing/
http://rope-work-101.wikidot.com/
http://www.jrre.org/
http://www.allaboutrope.com/
http://www.bwrs.org.au/?q=research
http://user.xmission.com/~tmoyer/testing/
http://rescuedynamics.ca/
http://www.whitewater-rescue.com/main.asp
http://www.paci.com.au/downloads_public.php
http://efclimbers.net/further-reading/
http://kristinandjerry.name/cmru/rescue_info/
http://www.swiftwaterrescue.at/content/info.html
http://personal.strath.ac.uk/andrew.mclaren/Projects.htm
http://www.oterescue.co.nz/page/tech-toolbox/
https://www.fsi.illinois.edu/content/research/papers.cfm
http://canyoncollective.com/
http://beverlymountainguides.com/research/
http://www.speleocrasc.it/ (in Italian)
http://www.caimateriali.org/homepage.html
http://www.caipadova.it/
http://efs.ffspeleo.fr/index.php/documentation/publications-techniques-get
Subscription Based (must pay a fee for much of the content)
http://www.ropelab.com.au/
http://www.desertrescue.com/