Another round of blogging is here and Spring Break has just
ended. Since I didn't go home and work, I am sitting here
trying to figure out what to write about. After a few minutes
of thinking, I've decided to write about something I'm interested
in, and its implications in veterinary medicine.
I have always been interested in helping both people and
animals. This past fall, I took an elective course on
Emergency Response and Disaster Management, and I learned about the
integral part a veterinarian can play in disaster planning. I
was so intrigued by this topic, I decided to resume my Master's
program (yes, I am crazy being dual-enrolled in vet school) and
finish my studies learning about disaster prevention and
management. Right now, I am taking a break from writing my
paper on this topic to write this blog.
Veterinarians are instrumental in the development of emergency
planning. Certain aspects need to be addressed before
disasters occur - from animal transport to coordination of
veterinary services to evaluation of resources and supplies.
This reality was brought to light by Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita, and legislation addressing these new concerns was created
beginning in 2006 with the PETS (Pets Evacuation and Transportation
Standards) Act. In Texas, this act was bolstered by the
signing of "Simba's Law", or House Bill 88, in 2007. These
laws enable pet owners to evacuate and find shelter for their
animals in times of disasters.
Planning for disasters is difficult. You have to think
about all of the different types of natural and man-made disasters
and form a set of plans that can be adapted to all of them.
This is what your city and state officials do for you on a routine
basis. Food and water safety, shelter, sanitation,
evacuation, medical aid, etc must be taken into account when
responding to a disaster. Hopefully, the "response" phase
will never be necessary. This is when all the planning is put
into action - lives are saved, damage is minimized, and assessment
/ rebuilding begins. Veterinarians help these efforts by
treating animals, evaluating the safety of food and water supplies,
preventing disease, and performing many other functions as needed.
In the post-response phase, the town rebuilds, the disaster
plans are re-evaluated, and amendments are made where
necessary.
As individuals, we all have the ability to participate in
emergency planning and response efforts. The best way to do
this is to prepare ourselves and our families for
emergencies. This includes creating first aid kits and
pre-packaged supplies for not only the humans in the family, but
also the animals. This includes having your contact
information and evacuation plans in place before disaster
strikes. And this includes staying calm and following through
with your plans in the face of disaster. By assuming some
responsibility and preparing yourself, you are helping your local
community.
For guides to preparing your pets for an emergency, talk with
your local veterinarian and visit petsamerica.org or
http://www.fema.gov/txt/hazard/hurricane/pets.txt for more
information.