September 15, 2012
COLLEGE STATION,
TEXAS - Some of the most compelling images from disaster scenes are
those of animals that have been stranded and are in need of aid.
However, when the animals that are in need weigh more than 1000
pounds and are frightened, rescue operations quickly become
complicated and dangerous for both the animal and the rescuer.
Through an innovative partnership, faculty and staff at the
University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine -
International Animal Welfare Training Institute (UC Davis - IAWTI),
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, and Texas A&M
College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), a
new continuing education course is preparing first responders and
veterinarians to safely handle and rescue large animals caught in
disaster.
"It began when a colleague of mine, Dr. Charlie Anderson, and I
developed a new sling to help with horses that were arriving at our
clinic unable to stand," said Dr. John Madigan, professor of
medicine and epidemiology at UC Davis. "Soon after, we were asked
to assist with the rescue of some horses and mules that were
stranded in the Sierras using our sling and a helicopter lift. We
were able to coordinate a successful rescue that resulted in a
great deal of media coverage. From floods to hurricanes to
wildfires, we have been able to perform successful rescues, and the
attention that these operations garner has generated increased
awareness of larger animal issues in emergency response as well as
the recognition that veterinarians need to be involved."
Shortly
after these early rescues, Madigan was joined by Tracey Stevens in
2008, who now serves as deputy director of the UC Davis - IAWTI. A
variety of funding for the institute has come forth to include an
$800,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security to create
state and national programs that would bring animal issues together
with emergency response.
"As we began to become more involved in California's emergency
response efforts, we realized the missing component was veterinary
medicine," said Stevens. "We decided to create a curriculum that
integrates veterinary medicine into disaster response. The primary
level of our efforts is to get the attention of the emergency
response community and educate them about animal issues. The
secondary level is where we began to teach technical skills and
animal handling techniques."
With the establishment of the Veterinary Emergency Team within
the CVM, Texas A&M makes an ideal collaborator for emergency
response training and animal issues.
"The VET has as a strong working relationship with the emergency
response network in the State of Texas," said Dr. Wesley Bissett,
director of the VET. "Since our beginning in 2008, we knew there
was a growing need to engage not only the veterinary community to
better prepare them to participate in the emergency response
structure, but also to take a leadership role in educating other
response organizations about animal issues and safe animal rescue
procedures. The team at UC Davis brings a wealth of experience and
training to the table, and we are glad to be able to partner with
them to offer this unique training opportunity. We hope that this
will be the first of many such courses."
To be able to offer training on animal rescue and welfare to
those outside of veterinary medicine, it is essential that the
courses integrate well with the national emergency response
training agenda. Madigan and Stevens have worked with federal
agencies to have federal identification numbers assigned to courses
they offer so that first responders are now able to utilize federal
training dollars to learn how to deal with animal issues during a
disaster.
"We have worked very hard to create a standardized training that
connects veterinary medicine and emergency response," said Madigan.
"There is such a great relationship between our team and the
faculty at Texas A&M that we wanted this to be our first
stop."
Stevens added that the human-animal bond is strong and that
caring for animals in disaster is not only the right thing to do,
it also becomes a safety issue as well.
"Without training on how to safely rescue an animal that is
large and frightened, first responders are put at risk, and even
the public can be at risk," said Stevens. "As a profession,
veterinarians care for animals and in a disaster, it becomes an
animal welfare issue. What we have enjoyed as we begin to connect
animal issues and emergency response is the camaraderie that has
developed between the veterinary world and the responder world.
It's had to develop naturally over time, but it is very exciting to
see these two areas begin to make meaningful connections."
Bissett
also noted the psychological impact that animal rescue has on first
responders that has been a central part of the welcome integration
of veterinary medicine into emergency response.
"For so long, responders rescuing people were forced to watch
animals suffering from the impact of a disaster because they had
nowhere to take these animals for evaluation and treatment," said
Bissett. "As veterinarians we are uniquely poised to provide that
outlet for them, giving them the ability to respond and to resolve
the suffering of the animals they find. That is huge in terms of
the psychological impact of a rescuer. By working with others to
continue providing educational opportunities such as this
continuing education program, we can strengthen those bonds between
veterinarians and responders improving the ability to take care of
animals in need when they need it the most."
The continuing education program consisted of lectures and
hands-on laboratory exercises, including a simulated airlift
rescue. The instructional team included members from the Texas
A&M Veterinary Emergency Team, the UC Davis IAWTI, Texas
A&M Engineering Extension Service, and Texas Task Force-1. More
than 60 people attended the course including veterinarians,
veterinary technicians, and law enforcement and rescue operations
personnel.
Contact Information:
Angela G. Clendenin
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Ofc - (979) 862-2675
Cell - (979) 739-5718