Evacuation Gear to Check - RIGHT NOW

You're ready for your refresher, or are you? Below is a good checklist of rescue gear that should be inspected for safety.

Chair Lift Evacuation Seats: Make sure there are no cracked welds, significant dents or bends in the tubing or seat plate. Any Evacuation Seat with a wooden base should be replaced.

Rope Savers: Inspect for abnormal wear, bending or burrs around the area of rope travel. Ensure that the Line Saver is free and clear of obstructions. If you are using a Line Belay, inspect the area where the belay is welded to the Line Saver. Any cracks or abnormalities should be reported to Cascade Rescue and the device "red tagged" until the device is professionally inspected and repaired or replaced.

• If any Rope Savers have what appears to be a washer welded to the lower section, they should be retired. This is NOT a recall, but a recommendation from the manufacturer based upon the age of these devices as "rescue equipment" and the fact that many people are using them inappropriately. These were made over 20 years ago with the intent of using that point as an attachment point for a tag line. Since then, they have been inappropriately used as a belay point for a mechanical advantage system. These points are not rated for a "man load" and will fail. A Line Belay should be used if a mechanical advantage system is desired.

Ropes: Work as a team to inspect every inch of any rope you may use to support human weight. Fraying, cuts, abrasions, lumps or any thinning of rope segments signal that your rope should be retired. Make sure you keep a good rope log of age, number of sessions and uses.

Carabiners/Belay Devices: Many people take their carabiners for granted. Often they even become a source of bragging rights - "I've had this biner forever and it still works". That's OK, as long as it hasn't been dropped from height or have any dents or significant scratches. If it does, replace it. The risk to your life or others is worth more than the cost of a new carabiner.