The role of safety-related criteria in selection of rope-technology equipment for emergency rescue operations.

In one of the extreme areas of disaster relief, the volunteer rescue organizations that carry out special rescue operations - most of their civil volunteers having gained their knowledge by practicing extreme sports - have an increasingly significant role. Professional-level alpine activity or cave tour guiding has developed from amateur, hobby-like rock climbing or caving, however, there weren't any professional specifications elaborated for the former activities. Though the activities of the large number of such organizations, in general, are regulated, the safety specifications of the equipment and devices used for rescue, in particular, are not regulated. The methodology and operational procedures of special rescues are not sufficiently elaborated either. The purpose of the study is to provide answers to the issue of safe usability of rope-technology equipment by related Q-sort on equipment-use, make suggestions of improvements, thus preventing accidents.