Which of the following is not a type of rope used in rescue operations?

• A. Laid
• B. Braided
• C. Braid on Braid
• D. Steel wire rope

Answer: (D)

In rescue operations, the ropes used for life-safety lines and handlines are typically fiber ropes because they are easy to handle, knot, inspect, and work with friction devices. Laid rope (twisted strands), braided rope, and braid-on-braid are common fiber constructions that provide good flexibility, grip, and compatibility with knots and rescue hardware. Steel wire rope, while very strong, is heavy, stiff, and difficult to handle or knot; it can cause severe rope burns, doesn’t bend as readily to devices and pulleys, and offers little to no dynamic stretch, which is often important for absorbing shock loads in rescue work. For these reasons, steel wire rope is not used as a standard rescue rope for life-safety lines.