Project name: LAER (Large Animal Emergency Rescue) Firefighter Training
Project summary and highlights:
All large animal incidents regardless of cause or scope, present a risk of injury to responders. Through proper training of best practices and the use of specialized rescue equipment we significantly mitigate these risks and improve the odds of a favorable outcome for both animals and responders. By keeping responders safe, we improve our capacity to keep animals safe.
The Awareness/Operational level course is designed to meet the specific needs of the host fire department.
An “In Class” component introduced basic animal behaviour, animal handling techniques, animal restraint and confinement techniques, basic anatomy and a discussion on the roles of others at an animal incident i.e. owners, veterinarians, and the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA).
Practical session include demonstrations of large animal manipulation techniques such as forward and rear assists, sideways drags and cast horse rolls are taught always with a focus on safety for both humans and animals and the general welfare of the animal.
The application of these manipulations in a confined space and/or trench rescue scenario is also discussed. Participants also take part in rotations addressing animal behaviour, approach, basic handling (emergency halters), restraint & leading animals, kick zones and blind zones.
The education is then then put into practice in a rescue scenario that uses Rusti a 600 pound horse mannequin. Everyone in the training group gets to practice the manipulation techniques. All exercises are conducted using the Incident Command system. All manipulation techniques are grounded in best management practices.