Fireman's chair knot

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Tying the firemans' chair knot

A Fireman's chair knot is an inline knot with two adjustable loops in opposing directions.

It can be used as a harness capable of supporting a person, for example when lowering them during a rescue. One loop supports the body, under the armpits, and the other loop supports the legs, under the knees. A reasonably snug fitting of this knot should not allow the person to fall, even if unconscious.

Use as a sling

The knot consists of two simple loops, overlaid, and with the ends pulled through. At that stage, the knot is ductile and easy to adjust. The sizes of the two loops can then be fixed by tying a half-hitch around the opposite loop (see diagram)

See also the Handcuff knot, which uses the same configuration of two loops