Who determines the rate of descent of the litter in a low-angle evacuation?

The litter captain is responsible for determining the rate of descent of the litter in a low-angle evacuation. This role is critical during technical rescue operations where the safety and control of the patient are paramount. The litter captain oversees the entire operation and has a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics involved in managing the descent, including the terrain, the weight of the litter and the patient, and the capabilities of the team members.

In this context, the litter captain must ensure that the descent is executed at a safe and controlled speed to avoid further injury to the patient and to maintain the safety of the rescuers. This involves communicating with the team about when to move, how fast to lower, and when to adjust their technique based on the conditions and feedback from the team.

The roles of the incident commander, edge attendant, and medical tender, while important to the overall operation, focus on broader command decisions, monitoring the edge safety, and providing medical support, respectively. Their responsibilities do not include directly managing the rate of descent, which is specifically under the purview of the litter captain during a low-angle evacuation scenario.