HollisBlanchard: Created page with "{{:BlogAuthors/LauraHall}} Category:Training First published: Feb 19, 2016 link= One of the advanced trainings that the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) and Portland Fire & Rescue offer for NET members is knot tying. === How are knots useful? === Tarp tent Uh, how aren’t they useful? After an earthquake, you may need to atta..."

2025-05-29T23:29:05Z

Created page with "{{:BlogAuthors/LauraHall}} Category:Training First published: Feb 19, 2016 link= One of the advanced trainings that the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) and Portland Fire & Rescue offer for NET members is knot tying. === How are knots useful? === Tarp tent Uh, how aren’t they useful? After an earthquake, you may need to atta..."

New page

{{:BlogAuthors/LauraHall}}
[[Category:Training]]

First published: Feb 19, 2016

[[File:Rachael-tarp-tent-e1461134858729-1080x675.jpg|link=]]

One of the advanced trainings that the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) and Portland Fire & Rescue offer for NET members is knot tying.


=== How are knots useful? ===

[[File:Tarp-tent.jpg|Tarp tent]]

Uh, how aren’t they useful? After an earthquake, you may need to attach a tarp to a tree to create a makeshift shelter, tie down a load of gear to a truck or cargo bike, carry water a long distance, make a clothesline for drying things, etc. Knowing just a few basic knots will prepare you for this, and it can be useful in everyday life as well!


=== PBEM’s Knots Guidebook: ===

Check out the [https://www.portlandoregon.gov/pbem/article/517999 Portland NET Knots Guidebook] to learn eight highly useful knots. The guide includes knot tying terminology, information about rope safety, advice about what type of gear to buy, and instructions for the following knots: bowline, clove hitch, figure eight, munter, overhand, prusik, square knot, and water knot.


=== Trucker’s Hitch: ===

[[File:Truckers-Knot-3-cropped.jpg|x400px|Truckers Knot 3 cropped]]

At our NET meeting last week, we practiced another highly useful knot: [http://www.animatedknots.com/truckers/#ScrollPoint the trucker’s hitch]. It’s a compound knot commonly used for securing loads on trucks or trailers, but it’s also great for making a tarp shelter. It gives you a 2-1 mechanical advantage when tightening the rope. Be careful though. You can actually damage the object you’re tying down because of this! This knot holds fast and is easy to untie – traits of any good knot.


=== Great Knot Tying Resources: ===

* [https://www.portlandoregon.gov/pbem/article/517999 Portland NET Knots Guidebook] by PBEM
* [http://www.animatedknots.com/indexrescue.php Grog’s Search & Rescue Knots] on AnimatedKnots.com
* [https://www.lifeviewoutdoors.com/nine-nice-knots-you-need-to-know Nine Knots You Need to Know] on LifeViewOutdoors.com
* [http://knots3d.com/ Knots 3-D app] for phones and tablets

There are hundreds of knots you could learn, but knowing just a few is enough for most people. It’s more important to be able to tie a few standard knots automatically while under duress than to learn many knots and not know them well.

Now go get a rope and start practicing!

Blog/2016/02/Why Knot - Revision history