How to Tie Knots in a Rope for Rescues

Rescuing a person may mean carrying them from one place to another or climbing partway down a cliff to pull them to safety. In these scenarios, tying the correct knot can literally mean the difference between life and death. There are a number of knots regularly used for rescue attempts.

Instructions

  1. Figure Eight on the Bight

    • 1

      Hang part of the rope, somewhere in the middle section, over your index finger and let both sides of the rope fall to the ground. Pinch the two sides of the rope together about 2 feet below the point of your index finger.

    • 2

      Wrap the looped part of the rope --- the part around your index finger --- around the two hanging parts of the rope by allowing the looped portion to droop to the right. This will create an upside down "U" with the two hanging parts forming one end and the looped part forming another.

    • 3

      Hold the top of the "U" with your left hand. Wrap the looped portion of the rope around the two hanging sections by taking it around the outside of those ropes and bringing it towards you. Finish by bringing the loop through the top of the "U" and pulling tight.

    Bowline on the Bight

    • 4

      Hang part of the rope, somewhere in the middle section, over your index finger and let both sides of the rope fall to the ground. Lay the rope on the ground or on a table maintaining this form.

    • 5

      Double the rope over about 2 feet back from the top of the loop, or where your index would be if you were still draping the rope over your finger. You can do this by picking up the two ends, twisting it a half revolution to the right and laying it back down on the table.

    • 6

      Take the original loop through the backside of the loop you've just created, the side closest to the table or ground, by pulling up through the second loop. This will create a third loop. Pull the original loop through this third loop and pull tight.

    Fisherman's

    • 7

      Lay the ends of two ropes side by side but aiming opposite directions. Allow about 2 feet of overlap.

    • 8

      Wrap the end of one rope around the other as if making an everyday knot, commonly referred to as an overhand knot. This means making a loop around the second rope and pulling the end of the first rope through that loop. Repeat this with the other rope, so that each rope end has created a knot around the other rope.

    • 9

      Pull each rope apart so that the knots meet each other. Ensure each knot is tight. If they aren't, one or both knots may slip and will not be able to hold against each other.