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Quick-release belt

Firstly, this text does not represent the ideas of the CSRQ (Quebec River Safety Consortium). It is a personal written exercise.


This resource is not a substitute for whitewater rescue training provided by a recognized training provider.


Synonym for quick-release belt: chest harness, lifebelt, quick-release harness, quick-release harness, rescue PFD.


Objectives of the quick-release belt:


This is a tool that helps in both rescuing and being rescued. It is either an integral part of a life jacket or, less commonly, worn at the waist, independently of the jacket.


  • It allows intervention in the water while being secured (attached to a rope).

  • It allows you to be rescued if you are stuck (provides a secure connection to be attached to a rope).

  • It allows for towing (along with a tow rope) equipment or an unconscious victim.


Historical


Created by the AKC (Alpine Kayak Club) in the mid-1970s, the quick-release belt has remained virtually unchanged ever since. It was time for a revolution.


This revolution was introduced in 2014 by Loel Collins ( DProf PGCert ) of the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and Chris Onions (MRes) of R3 Safety & Rescue Ltd with research on the rapid-release belt.


Here is the complete research in PDF format 👇



1 Onions C & Colins L (2013). A review of quick release harness performance in water rescue. International Journal of Emergency Services. Vol 2 #2 Collins L. & Onions C (2014). Improving the performance of the Quick release rescue harness. Journal of Search and Rescue. Flight 1 #3



Problematic :


  • According to the study cited earlier, one in four quick-release belts fails to deploy correctly. That's a 25% failure rate for this vital piece of equipment.

  • Many people own a quick-release belt but don't know how to use it correctly, often due to a lack of proper training.

  • An incorrectly configured seatbelt can be dangerous (25% failure rate).


New practices for harness use:


A transition to new practices requires changing our old mindsets, so this may take some time.


  • New protocol : 3 cm max. The length of the free end of the strap should be a maximum of 3 cm (30 mm) so that the buckle's arc completely releases the strap when it is triggered. A strap that is too long can cause it to jam and compromise safety.




(source: Palm Equipment. “ PFD chest harness best practice ” YouTube , March 2, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klkhwNdFDCY .)



  • Non-adjustable belt : The new adjustable belts are very practical, but it's still possible to comply with the new protocol using non-adjustable belts. Simply cut the belt to leave a maximum of 3 cm of free webbing. However, this can become a problem if the PFD is changed or if you are wearing multiple layers underneath.

  • Harness height on the chest : During a roped swimming technique, the higher the harness sits (on the chest), the more it will help the person keep their head above water. The lower it sits (on the chest), the more it will tend to restrict the person's movement (which is why a waist belt is really not ideal). See this video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiE3bdoWngE&t=1s At 5:28, you can see the difference in harness height between an Astral and a Palm harness. A real-life example can also be seen later in this video.



Other considerations


  • The loop to be pulled must be easily identifiable (red/yellow, accessible).

  • It is important to differentiate between a towing belt (used to keep your rope bag on you) and a rescue belt (for roped swimming techniques such as "live bait", long with carabiner, etc.).

  • Some instructors recommend having the buckle on the side so it can be released even when curled up by the current. I haven't found any information on this, and it doesn't seem to be a problem with the newer PFDs, as the harness is intentionally positioned high on the chest (even when folded in half, the buckle is still accessible). However, this is something to keep in mind with models that have a harness positioned low on the chest (like the Astral).

  • Some instructors recommend threading the sling differently through the metal slider to reduce resistance during triggering. I find it dangerous to recommend a technique without any supporting evidence and that goes against the manufacturers' recommendations. The problem of jamming isn't friction. The problem arises from twists in the sling when it's too long. By following the new procedure, there are no more triggering problems.

  • Often used in conjunction with a tow rope (cow tail, pig tail) acting as an extension of the harness.

  • A ring is often passed through the belt and positioned behind the PFD. This provides the advantage of allowing a carabiner to be attached more quickly (than directly to the belt) and reduces the risk of accidentally connecting other PFD straps.

  • Designed solely for horizontal rescue, not for vertical rescue.



Training exercises:


  • Simulation of belt activation in a river, in a controlled environment.




  • Live bait rescue, where a person on a rope retrieves a victim by swimming.


  • V-lower for controlling a tethered swimmer from the banks.


Recommendations:


  • Receive quality training with a certified instructor.

  • Train regularly.


Modern life jacket with adjustable belt


With this new protocol, I'm certain that an adjustable belt will become the norm. Palm started the trend in 2020 with the Palm Nevis, and now other industry players are quietly joining the fray.


Palm Nevis is the result of research from the University of Central Lancashire.

This is the world's first PFD with an adjustable harness. It sets a new standard in fit and safety.

  • NRS Vector pfd

  • NRS Ninja pro pfd

  • Palm Extreme PFD

  • Palm Extreme Women's PDF

  • Palm FXR PDF

  • Palm rescue 850 pfd

  • Palm rescue hybrid pfd

  • Palm rescue extreme pfd

  • Palm rescue universal pfd



Sources




 
 
 

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