By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
Not all heroes wear capes. In fact, most wear bunker gear or uniforms. They are the ones responding to the call when an emergency pops up in the community and, thanks to years dedicated to training, know what to do to take control in a time of chaos.
Some of those emergencies, especially out in the county, may not involve people, but large animals.
On Friday, a group of first responders took part in a training exercise that familiarized them with an array of potential scenarios, and provided them with the best practices on how to navigate those challenging situations.
Firefighters from four local departments, including Essex Fire & Rescue, RCMP, EMS, Police, and a few of WETRA’s staff members took part in the training activity.
Through the event, participants learned how to use the tools at their disposal – or discovered what tools they should have handy – to remove a large animal from mud, how to assist one that became cast beneath a fence or in their stall, and how to get an animal back to its feet in the tight space of a trailer after an accident or incident.
Dr. Susan Raymond, Communications & Program Officer for Equine Guelph of the University of Guelph, facilitated the Large Animal Emergency Rescue Awareness Level program, which was hosted at the Windsor Essex Therapeutic Riding Association.
The County of Essex invited program instructors out to host the event, after Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy brought up the importance of looking into large animal rescue training for area first responders at a County Council meeting back in May. That way, they would be prepared to properly and safely handle a situation.
“Our program focuses on promoting best practices in terms of welfare of the animal, but also safety of the people and the animal,” Raymond explained. “If [someone] sees an animal in distress, it’s human nature that we want to help it. A lot of people end up putting themselves in danger or harm’s way when they are trying to help.”
Through this program, best practice training is provided to first responders – and also to veterinarians, vet techs, horse and livestock owners – that focuses on safety and promoting a good outcome; hopefully one that will be the best outcome for the animal.
First responders, and in particular firefighters, have a lot of training, resources, and equipment behind them. It is really beneficial to give them the training on how to properly use the equipment they have, so they are not causing more harm to an animal, Raymond said.
“We stress in any animal incident to get a veterinarian involved. The veterinarian or a vet tech will be able to assess if it is in the best interest of the animal to continue the rescue, and will be able to assess if it is safe to sedate the animal for the safety of the people and also the animal. So, it is really a way to bring the community together to work in a very safe, responsible way for everyone’s wellbeing.”
Emergency situations involving large animals can range. Some may involve one animal, such as situations where a large animal has run through a fence or has gotten stuck in the mud. Others may involve multiple animals, such as a barn fire or a transportation incident where a horse or another animal is down in the trailer, or the trailer is involved in an accident.
It could also involve animals that have gotten loose and are running on a highway.
“It is for everybody’s safety to come up with a good plan. It’s not just getting an animal out of harm’s way it is [about] where it is going next. It should be contained and under veterinary supervision. [It’s] looking at the whole picture rather than – and we are all at fault in terms of we want to do this – kneejerk reaction of saving something quickly,” Raymond said.
Taking a step back and determining the best way to approach a situation is paramount.
The focus of the program is on animals, such as horses and cows, though some can be used on wild animals, and other species, like alpacas, llamas, or groups of smaller animals, like a trailer incident involving poultry, Raymond added.
Knowing not all participants may have experience with large animals, there is a component of the program where they can learn to be safe around a calm horse, before responding to an incident.
The program has been running through Equine Guelph for a decade. It was built on world-wide best practices. Around six courses and hosted every year, each limited to around 30 participants.
Equine Guelph also has a strong online education presence through the Horse Portal that offers resources and videos, Raymond added.
There is hope to host the awareness-level program again with first responders next year, and possibly extend it to a two-or-three-day training program, which offers operational levels that provide more technical training.
Individuals and groups can reach out to Equine Guelph to host the Large Animal Emergency Rescue Awareness Level program, including equine or livestock facilities or vet clinics.
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