Midwest Technical Rescue Training Associates
Introduction
MTRTA is a non-profit educational corporation dedicated to providing individuals, emergency, response agencies, outdoor adventure organizations, and industry with the highest quality technical rescue services available. Technical rescues include those situations where specialized skills and equipment are required to gain access to a victim, stabilize the victim's environment and condition, and remove the victim to a safe area. The potential for a technical rescue exists wherever there are conditions that make access and egress difficult, such as in the following areas:
- Industrial structures (towers, buildings, machinery, elevators)
- Construction sites & roof-tops
- Agricultural structures (barns, silos, elevators, manure pits)
- Swiftwater, lake & ice rescues
- Municipal and public structures (water towers, church stteeples, window washing structures)
- Confined Spaces (sewer systems, storage tanks, caves, machinery)
- Stabilization of objects
- Cave-in of man-made or natural structures (trench rescue)
- Vehicular accidents in ravines(low-angle & steep-angle carryouts)
- Outdoor recreation sites (wilderness areas, cliff faces, caves)
Services
MTRTA provides the following services to Federal, State, County, and local agencies and individuals:
- Customized Technical Rescue Training
- Consulting services
- Support for various Search operations
- Rescue and Recovery services
MTRTA's Training Programs
Our curricula is modular. Thus, we can offer highly customized training depending on the needs of your organization. Course lengths range from a one hour introductory lecture to a six day, 65 hour seminar. MTRTA instructors are trained according to the standards of the American Search and Rescue Institute (AMSAR). The curriculum is consistent with the standards of various organizations such as the NFPA, ASTM, AMGA, and NASAR. Student-to-instructor ratios are low to create a quality learning environment and to maximize student safety during vertical exercises. In all courses, basic through advanced, emphasis is placed on safety and simplicity. Some of the skills we teach are:
- General Skills
- Using & maintaining rescue gear
- Knot typing & rope handling
- Scene size-up
- Building anchor systems
- Belaying skills
- Patient stabilization & packaging
- Inidvidual Skills
- Harnessing rescuers & victims
- Rappelling (descending a rope)
- Jugging (ascending a rope)
- Knot-passing
- Change-overs
- Pick-offs (single rope rescues)
- Team Skills
- Team descending skills
- Low angle & steep angle carryouts
- Unattended litter lowers
- Single & double point litter lowers
- Team ascending skills
- Mechanical advantage systems
Consulting Services
MTRTA provides various consulting services such as developing resource management plans, hazard mitigation, refining Operations Manuals, specialized rescue team development, and accident investigation. We also assist organizations with purchasing rescue equipment at discounted prices.
Support for Search Operations
MTRTA has formed a network with a number of organizations to provide specialized search resources to public service agencies. Together, we can provide the following services:
- Land-Based Searches (SAR resources):
- Expertise in managing a ground search
- SAR dog teams
- Trained ground search personnel
- Cartography and GPS navigation assistance
- Water Searches:
- Sonar services through our associate, Emergency Support Services (ESS)
- Swiftwater expertise
- Communication Assistance:
- Mobile bases coordinating field teams
- Field-programmable portable radios
- Specialized Resource Coordination:
- MTRTA frequently provides coordination between various specialized resources
Rescue and Recovery Services
- We are available for emergency response to technical rescues and body recoveries.
- Response times will vary according to the location of the rescue and availability of personnel.
- MTRTA personnel are trained to integrate with established Incident Command Structures.
- MTRTA can respond to the scene with up to three large specialized technical rescue gear caches.
- MTRTA can provide a range of assistance, from consultation only to a complete response team.
- MTRTA can respond with paramedics capable of providing care to victims during extended rescues.
Contacting MTRTA
If we can be of any service, please call: (612) 722-5786 (Voice) or (612) 510-2527 (Digital pager)
or write us at: Midwest Technical Rescue Training Associates.
Email: info@mtrta.org
Jeffrey A Hasse, President
5229 32nd Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55417-2032
For emergency response, dial: (612) 510-2527. Enter your telephone number followed by *911.