We present here notes taken on the following curriculum:

1. How Horse Owners Should Prepare for Earthquake, Fire, Flood & Bioterrorism
2. Gary Schafer, Alta Loma Horse Club, presents Successful Horse Club Rescue Team Model
3. Horse Trailer Accidents: Techniques & Equipment for Extraction and Rescue
4. Care of the "Down Horse" & National Disaster Planning, Dr.John Madigan
5. Equine Splinting and Bandaging Techniques, Dr. Larry Galuppo

Click here for Center for Equine Health Report featuring the symposium from the UC Davis website. If not successful click here for copy downloaded to Irene Deem site.

(You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read. Click here for free copy of Acrobat.)

Update: UC Davis equipment used in efforts to save Barbaro

These web pages are not a complete discussion of the subject. It is taken from notes and presented in the hopes of encouraging horse owners to further their knowledge and training, to be aware of this valuable resource at UC Davis and to support this program or one in their area by donating equipment and funding.

OVERVIEW:

• In disasters such as fires and floods, horse owners find themselves in a frustrating situation where they are turned away from areas where animals need to be rescued. The solution is to become a registered disaster service worker, a trusted and known asset to your community emergency service team, so you can function safely and effectively within their system. Organize your equine community so you have a designated area to bring animals and a system of calling volunteers, identifying animals and vehicles and owners. California has drought conditions in 2004 putting us at a very high risk for fires. See the Alta Loma Horse Club article for a successful model for building your community preparedness program.
• Horse Trailer Accidents, Extraction of horses
• Moving the Down Horse
• Owners can Improve Outcomes with Correct Use of Splints on Broken Bones

Disclaimer: This information is provided as an effort to disseminate emergency procedure information to the equine community. This information makes no warranty whatsoever regarding the effectiveness of any products , methods, or techniques discussed for coping with equine emergencies. The information presented is not complete and horse owners are encouraged to obtain further information, course work and training from the resources sited. Dr.Madigan stressed that if we work together on emergency preparedness, good things can happen for our horses

Equine Emergency & Disaster Response Symposium, UC Davis April 24, 2004

Note: In 2004 California faces drought conditions and the highest risk for fire in recent years. Horse owners and ranchers are asked to consider training as Registered Disaster Service Workers so they will be allowed access to restricted areas and function safely and effectively in the rescue system. Make yourself a trusted asset to your local rescue team by getting trained and cooperating with their program.

1. DISASTER PREPAREDNESS - WHAT HORSE OWNERS NEED TO DO

A. Register as a Disaster Service Worker

B. Prepare Your Property

American Association of Equine Practitioners www.aaep.org/emergency_prep.htm
National Association for Search and Rescue www.nasar.org
Animal Disaster Relief throught the AVMA Foundation www.avma.org/disaster
USDA Services www.aphis.usda.gov/services/report_pest_disease/report_pest.html
Biodefense Reference Library www.humanitarian.net/biodefense/fazdc

Rationale:
Horse owners must prepare for fire, earthquake or flood disasters by registering and training as Registered Disaster Service Workers trained to work in the SEMS/ICS* system. This will enable them to get past the barricades during emergencies so they can rescue trapped animals. Without this training and identification you will be turned away, even if you are a veterinarian. Contact your local disaster council office to find out your local training site. In Yolo County, contact the Office of Emergency Services (530)666-8930.

*SEMS/ICS

ICS=Incident Command System
SEMS= Standardized Emergency Management System

SEMS/ICS is a management system with five organizational levels: Field, Local, Operational Area (County) Region and State. ICS provides a Mutual Aid System allowing impacted jurisdictions to obtain resources from non-impacted jurisdictions throughout the State. It is a unified command system to prevent making decisions in a vacuum. SEMS is highly flexible , can be activated at any level of government as needed, expands and contracts based on the needs or threats of the event; therefore, it is different from one emergency to another and changes throughout the emergency.

Previous disasters have resulted in chaos as many agencies attempted to respond to the emergency without a clear organizational structure...SEMS seeks to correct these problems

Training:

What is a Registered Disaster Service Worker?

A Registered Disaster Service Worker is a person registered with the state to provide assistance during a disaster or emergency. State and local laws require disaster assistance volunteers to be registered to protect the safety and security of the people and property affected by the disaster, as well as ensure that those providing assistance are qualified to do so. Local authorities may ask unregistered volunteers to leave a disaster area, and can arrest those who refuse. A Registered Disaster Service Worker is covered under Workers' Compensation if they are injured during a disaster.

Who is qualified to become a Registered Disaster Service Worker?

Anyone can become a Registered Disaster Service Worker if they register with their local disaster council. Anyone ordered to perform services during an emergency by a person or body with that authority, is also considered a Disaster Service Worker and will receive the same benefits as if they had registered with their local disaster council. All public employees are considered Disaster Service Workers when ordered to assist during disasters by their superiors. Members of volunteer fire departments are not considered Disaster Service Workers (Title 19, CCR, 2570.2.a)

Registered Disaster Service Workers are assigned a classification based on the work they are qualified to do during a disaster. There is a classification for Animal Rescue, Care and Shelter (title 19, CCR 2572.2)

Who is included in the Animal Rescue, Care, and Shelter Classification?

Veterinarians, Veterinary Support Staff, and Animal Handlers who provide skills in the rescue, clinical treatment, and transportation of all animals are included in this category. (Title 19, CCR, 2572.1.a)

How do I become a Registered Disaster Service Worker?

A Disaster Service Worker must be registered with a disaster council or the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES). Disaster councils may require each Disaster Service Worker to complete a disaster training course, refresher courses, or require proof of professional training or licensing. (Title 19, CCR, 2573.1)

A disaster council is a local public agency which can register and direct activities of disaster service workers at the county or city level. The disaster council must be accredited with the State of California. The disaster council acts as an instrument of the state with regard to disaster services. (title 19, CCR, 2570.2.d)

Can a Volunteer be sued for actions occurring while they are helping during a disaster?

Registered Disaster Service Workers and volunteers for non-profit organizations and government cannot beheld liable for their actions during a disaster while acting within the scope of their responsibilities. However, they are not protected if their actions are "willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct, or a conscious flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed by the volunteer." They are also not covered if they are operating a vehicle that cause damage. (Volunteer Protection Act of 1997-P.L. 105-19, Sec. 4)

Download the complete booklet in PDF form at www.equestriantrailsinc.com or www.etinational.com . Free copies are available while the supply lasts at:

Monte Nido Mountain Ridge Riders
Equestrian Trails, Inc., Corral 36
PO Box 8374
Calabasas, CA 91372-8374

This booklet is 27 pages long. Please get a copy, read it and benefit from the experience of these horse owners who have been through the southern Cal fires and learned first hand the problems for horses.

Here are a few highlights only. By no means is this even 10% of what you need to know! This booklet includes a list for your emergency kit and information on how to treat smoke inhalation, burns and

• Floods: preplanning with your neighbors will prevent loss of life and injury
• Floods: animals frequently aspirate water into their lungs and develop pneumonia. All rescue animals will need vet exams for their pulmonary status. When rescuing, try to keep the animals head above water to prevent aspiration.
• Fire - personal safety - wear cotton, wool and leather fabric if possible. Synthetics melt into the skin. Horse safety - use leather halters and cotton lead ropes; nylon melts into the horse's skin. Remove nylon fly masks, blankets or leg wraps. Horses may have suffered from smoke inhalation and all rescued horses will need veterinary evaluation.
• Fire - fences burn! In your planning do not count on your fences containing your horses. Your electrical fence will probably not be functioning. Have an evacuation plan and fire drill with your neighbors or rescue team
• Store kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel or propane at a safe distance from the house or barn
• Fire travels as fast as 100 mph, and creates its own wind. Have 200 feet around your huse with clearance to bare earth, BUT this will not guarantee your safety. Winds carry embers and smoke and heat are factors to consider in your decision to stay or leave.
• Locate your gas shut-off valve and have the appropriate shut-off tool attached to the piping
• Know where the main electrical service panels are located and know how to shut them off
• Evaluate your property and install as many sprinklers and hose bibs with hoses connected as you can afford!
• Cob webs are flammable and explosive - clean your rafters, walls and fixtures often.
• Make sure your horse has permanent identification such as a freeze brand, micro chip implant, tattoo, etc.

Horse Owners need to have an evacuation plan if they live an area subject to fire. Please see Gary Shafer's model for a successful rescue operation that saved hundreds of horses in the Grand Prix fire of 2003.

9:00 AM Welcome, Credits & Introductions, Dr. Gregory L. Ferraro

9:10 AM Program Introduction, Dr. John Madigan

9:15 AM Road Accidents & Trailer Rescue, John Fox, Felton Fire Dept.

9:45 AM Equine Rescue & Emergency Medical Procedures, Dr. John Madigan

10:45 AM Organizing a Community Rescue System, Gary Schafer, Alta Loma Riding Club

11:05 AM Equine Splinting & Bandaging Techniques, Dr. Larry Galuppo

11:25 AM Care of the "Down Horse" & National Disaster Planning, Dr. John Madigan

12:05 PM Statutory Requirements & Regulatory Organization for Animal Disaster Response, Dan McCanta, Yolo Co. Office of Emergency Services

1:30 PM Trailer Rescue Demonstration, Felton Fire Dept.

2:15 PM Moving the "Down Horse", VMTH Rescue Team

3:00 PM UC DAvis Large Animal Extractor Demonstration, VMTH Rescue Team

4:00 PM Helicopter Rescue Demonstration, VMTH Rescue Team

Special thanks to the Center for Equine Health for providing a comprehensive course for horse owners and veterinary practitioners in planning for rescue and disaster procedures.

-End-

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