At the end of June I was given the opportunity to go to this years Mountain Rescue Association conference at Mt. Hood, Oregon. I was able to represent both Juneau Mountain rescue, a search and rescue group I have worked with for 3 1/2 years, and Remote Medical International whom I am an Instructor for.

The Scarab Rescue Tool in action during a lower.Sometime between learning the latest techniques of rope rescue, and talking to the former 10th Mountain Division founders of the MRA, I had some time for look at and use one of the newest pieces of rope rescue equipment called the Scarab Rescue Tool, which you can get in steel or titanium.

The Scarab Rescue Tool made by Conterra equipment, is one of the newest and I would argue most user friendly pieces of rescue equipment around. Having used both break-bars and Tuba extensively in Mountain rescues, I feel that the Scarab takes use and functionally to the next step. A few things I found I liked about the Scarab:

First thing I noticed was that it was much easier to use for a left-handed operator such as myself. Anyone who has been in the middle of a complex rescue system with break-bars will notice that all they are set up for right-handed use. This may not seem like such a big deal, but during a rescue anything that will make operations simpler, and easier will make them safer for your team.

The next thing I noticed was how easy and fast it is to add or take rope from the system. Anyone who has setup a break-bar just to realize that there is another 80 feet of rope that needs to be pulled through before the line is tight will know what I am talking about. With the Scarab it is simple and fast to pull all that line through.

I had the chance to talk to some of the folks at Conterra  about the Scarab. Besides its speed and simplicity, they talked about the tests they ran the Scarab rescue Tool through. After running miles of rope through the Scarab they found two things. The Scarab has very little heat build up, and little to no signs of wear on the steel version.

The device is small, without any significant moving parts. It is simple and quick to set up.Also, for all of us that have had to hike rescue gear into the field the best part about the Scarab is its size. The titanium version weighs just 6.6 oz. and takes up less then half the room as a break-bar. The steel NFPA Scarab weights just 13.8 oz and has a strength rating of 26Kn, or about the same as knotted breaking strength of most 12.7 mm ropes.

The Scarab is much easier to brake with than a standard brake bar rack, especially if you are on uneven terrain.Having seen and practiced with both versions of the Scarab, I can’t wait for them to become part of my rope rescue kit. The Scarab represents the next level of rope rescue. You can find them on the Remote Medical equipment and supply page.

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