Training

The public has an expectation that when they call 9-1-1, someone will be sent to help them with their problem. The fire service has evolved into an emergency services organization. Therefore, firefighters spend countless hours training to respond and adapt to almost any type of emergency or situation.

Class Description

There are an estimated 9.2 million horses in the United States. With the number of horses on the roads and trails increasing every year, there has been an increase in the number of emergency incidents involving large animals. LAR incidents can be resolved with technical skills applied with an understanding of horse behavior and characteristics.

The Large Animal Rescue Company offers an 8-hour course that teaches the students rescue concepts, scene management, operations, and equipment. It covers trailer-incidents, trail-incidents and stable-incidents. Rescuer safety is emphasized throughout the class. .

This class will give the rescuers a basic set of tools and knowledge to perform a large animal rescue. The techniques taught in this course are based on the equipment carried on most type 1 (standard fire fighting) engines. This class will teach how to improvise straps and lifting harnesses out of fire hose and how to adapt rope systems for use with large, unpredictable animals. The course builds on existing fire service training such as Rescue systems 1 (Heavy Rescue), Vehicle Extrication, Confined Space Entry, and Haz Mat. With these technical skills, blended with an understanding of animal behavior, LAR can be a routine response. p>

LAR incidents may involve a multi-agency response. This class teaches how each agency interacts and emphasizes the importance of cooperation and teamwork. The incident is best managed through “SEMS” (Standard Emergency Management System), an organized structure that allows each agency to contribute certain resources towards a common goal. Students have an opportunity to practice this during scenario training.

Students will be taught the safety and danger zones around the animals. Large animals are dynamic and unpredictable. In stressful situations they act and react differently. Rescuers need to be prepared for these unpredictable reactions. The equipment and systems used need to be adaptable to these changes.

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