The 15 to 1 safety ratio in rescue indicates what about rope strength?

• A. The rope breaking strength should be at least 15 times the expected load
• B. The rope length should be 15 times the height
• C. The rope's diameter is 15 mm
• D. The rescue team should have 15 members

Answer: (A)

In rope rescue, the idea is a safety factor: the rope must be stronger than the load you expect to encounter. A 15 to 1 safety ratio means the rope’s breaking strength should be at least fifteen times the anticipated load. This margin accounts for dynamic forces that spike during a rescue, plus losses from knots, friction, wear, and small estimation errors. So if you anticipate a 200-pound load, you’d want a rope with breaking strength of at least about 3,000 pounds. It’s a measure of strength, not length, diameter, or how many rescuers are involved.