Yeah, 2020 was a mess – we don’t need to look back on all of that. But, there were a few shining moments last year that we can look back on and smile. And, when we look at these, they just about overshadow the chaos that took place.
Training Videos: One thing a national shut down gives you is time. And, since we’re not the sit around and wait type of group, we channeled our extra time into we channeled our extra time into creating a variety of training videos specific to SPRAT maneuvers, rope and tower rescue. In all, we were able to create and share a total of 27 videos with you guys and we’ve got more in the works.
Training Courses: Some of our courses took a bit of a hiatus for a few months, but the need for training doesn’t stop. In some cases, the need has grown. In total, we successfully delivered, Confined Space Rescue Technician, Tower Rescue Technician, Arborist Safety & Rescue, Advanced Urban Rescue Techniques and 29 SPRAT courses. Considering we were down for a few months, that’s pretty impressive, and we’re glad we could support our student’s training needs.
Via Ferrata Pro Rescue Course: Yeah, we’re calling this one out separately. In conjunction with the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park and Adventure Partners, we hosted a Via Ferrata Pro Rescue course at The Royal Gorge Bridge & Park in Colorado. The three-day course was filled with hands-on training with new tools and equipment, indoor instruction and several rounds of mock rescues. We may be a bit hooked on the Royal Gorge, and have a few future courses in the works. (For full details on this course, check out the Via Ferrata course recap.)
Launched Our New Website: This may not sound like a big deal, but the new website makes scheduling a course with our team a lot easier, and offers the ability to buy gear direct through our website. But, we’re not done. We’re continuing to add new products to the website based on need, and on what we’ve been testing out. If you’re looking for gear, definitely check out our website.
Petzl Technical Partner: Another exiting announcement, we were named a Petzl Technical Partner. The partnership means that we will continue to be your go-to resource for your Petzl equipment needs and that we’ll receive new equipment ahead of launch, so that we can try it out and provide you with solid insights on the gear. Case in point, our Petzl Spin L1 and L1D gear demo video.
Lift/Gondola Evacuation Training: Cascade Rescue Company joined the broader Harken Industrial team in 2020, which gave us the opportunity to expand our skills, and our training offerings. We now offer Lift/Gondola evacuation training, along with equipment consultation. We even had the opportunity to test out the new Cascade Rescue cable glider, and make a number of cameos in their video. Great piece of equipment, that makes these rescues a lot faster and safer.
Jobs, Jobs and More Jobs: We were definitely busy supporting rope access, rope rescue and confined space needs outside of training. 2020 had us in Kentucky for bridge inspections, training Team Rubicon on proper fall protection standards, facade inspections in Illinois, installing a seventeen floor, dual elevator, side by side guide rail system in North Carolina, tower inspections in Wisconsin, bridge inspections in Massachusetts, developing and implementing a confined space rescue plan for a local brewery in Illinois, and many other jobs in various locations. Jobs are already lined up for 2021, so keep an eye on social for these photos.
2021 is shaping up to be a pretty exciting year already. We have courses scheduled throughout the year, have an expansion up our sleeve and more videos planned. Stay tuned for more details. And, before we officially give 2020 the final wave, we want to say thank you to everyone that attended one of our courses, the organizations that trusted us to execute their rope access, rope rescue or confined space work, and our team for giving it their all every day.
Peace out 2020!