A few months back we got a call from the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Could the DTX Shoulder Shot be used on palm trees?
See it at work –
Why palm trees?
Here’s the challenge they faced.
A tree trimmer or worker can get trapped by a collapsing ring of dead fronds. These dead fronds can accumulate in a “skirt” or ring and suddenly slip down the trunk. When a tree worker attempts to cut the fronds from below, the fronds can collapse on top of the climber, pinning them against the tree facing hundreds of pounds of pressure and blocking airflow.
This is a high-risk event that can result in suffocation or crushing injuries.
One strategy is to reach the victim from the top using an aerial platform, aerial ladder, or a rope rescue system established by shooting a line over the crown. After clearing the fonds, the trapped person is secured to a rescue harness and lowered to the ground.
The DTX Shoulder Shot Line Launcher is an effective way for these rescuers to quickly get a line over the crown of the palm tree, and move forward with the rescue.