Know How to Save a Pet? BART is Here to Show You How!

     People love their pets and sometimes, pets get into trouble. Sometimes they are not really pets but wild animals and people care about them too! Be it that a pet or a wild animal that wonders out onto thin ice, gets stuck in a confined space, or just happens to be in the house that is on fire, sometimes they need our assistance. The question always comes up, how much risk should we take to save a pet? Is there a difference in the amount of risk we will take for a family pet versus a wild animal? How about livestock? All animals present risk when they are in need of rescue. The truth of the matter is that if we don’t take some risk, the pet’s owner will. That often leads to the would-be-rescuer needing rescue. We must acknowledge the value of the pet to the pet’s owner and be willing to expend some risk to save their “family” member.

      There are several schools of thoughts on pet rescues; some departments will expend all resources to save an animal. Others are more conservative and will only take a highly calculated risk when the benefit has been carefully considered and still others will not take any risk when a rescue involves an animal. Funny thing is that a successful animal rescue will make the news – often the front page! I believe a department can get better coverage of a pet rescue that they can on almost anything that they do day-to-day.

     Having said that, the truth remains; a pet’s life is never as valuable as a human life. It is not okay to lose or injure a firefighter while trying to rescue a pet so the risk benefit analysis should be carefully considered. Once a decision has been made to attempt a pet rescue, the action plan should be carefully considered and rescuer safety must remain the highest priority. A couple of years ago, two Belgium firefighters lost their lives while trying to rescue a swan. What a tragic loss of life trying to save a wild animal. The swan was apparently entangled and stuck in the current and while one firefighter fell in during the rescue attempt, the other one jumped in to save the first resulting in the double line of duty deaths.

     Our department has an animal rescue policy as it relates to ice rescue. Domestic animal rescues are at the discretion of the IC and should only be attempted if the safety of rescuers can be assured. When conducting a risk/benefit analysis, consideration should be given to the possibility that untrained bystanders will attempt an animal rescue if we do not intervene. The IC should consider this during their risk / benefit analysis of the situation.  Every attempt should be made, including police intervention, to mitigate the possible bystander’s rescue actions. There are many cases where fire departments didn’t have the necessary equipment to attempt an ice rescue of the family pet. The end result was that the department received significant criticism.

     At the end of the day, and as hard as it may be, we need to be prepared for that kind of criticism. Some rescues are too risky and while all of our hearts break for the loss of the pet, I promise that loss is so much less than the loss of a rescuer. We will take a risk when that risk has been carefully considered and when the likelihood (benefit) of a successful rescue outweighs the risk.

     We will not risk our lives to recover a dead pet. We will take calculated risk to save pets. We will take calculated risk to save wild animals but with the understanding that as traumatic as it might be, wild animals die tragic deaths in nature. It is nature’s way. While we will try to avert those from occurring where we can, we approach those rescues with the understanding that wild animals are wild. While we intercede on behalf of the animal, we should understand the value is our effort in keeping others with less training from attempting a rescue that when it goes wrong, forces us into a dangerous situation to rescue the would-be-rescuer. 

     When attempting the rescue of any animal, it is important to remember that the animal may, and often will try to bite or scratch the rescuer. This is true of both pets and wild animals. It is their defense mechanism and the animals are scared and use their only given defense to fight. We all understand the “fight or flight” process and this is a great example of that in action. Unfortunately, they are fighting the very people who are trying to help.

     While trained emergency responders are asked to learn more and more, it is foolish to think one is ready to respond to an animal emergency without proper training. That training is easy to obtain and we have had several people attend the Basic Animal Rescue Training (BART). BART is a FEMA approved training course designed for firefighters, EMS responders and other first responders that teaches responders how to handle small animals during emergencies. All of the BART courses are presented by trained professionals who are well versed in how to handle animals including livestock. Veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and student veterinarians and veterinary technicians provide the training to first responders. All of this is in an effort to keep our staff safe while we try to rescue our animal friends.

     BART is a nonprofit organization founded in Minnesota. BART’s mission is to “empower firefighters and other first responders to be prepared and equipped to address pets and livestock encountered in emergencies and disasters.” BART understands the bond between animals and their owners as well as the human element of watching animals in peril. People react when they see animals in peril and they will do that even if it puts them at great risk. BART is dedicated to help responders be better prepared to handle situations where animals may be in peril while teaching those helping how to help safely and effectively.

     BART was born following the loss of a pet at a fire scene. Ironically, the fire occurred at a firefighter’s home in Minnesota and the loss of his precious pet was immensely personal to all who responded. As a first responder, we all know that feeling all too well of responding to a call in which we know the people involved. It is even magnified when it is a fellow responder in our own department. That was the case when the New Brighton Fire Department responded to that fateful fire in a home of one of their own firefighters. Bart, a thirteen year-old German Short Haired Pointer was found during a search for victims. The crews removed Bart from the home but were unable to resuscitate the beloved pet. Bart’s owner took part in the resuscitation effort. He and his department were devastated from the loss of his beloved pet.

     Dr. Olsen, the wife of the firefighter involved is a veterinarian. She and the New Brighton Fire Department decided that they needed to do something to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. They challenged the thinking of veterinarians to think “out of the box”. Together, they got others to think differently about how they cared for pets in time of emergencies and just like EMS was created to help save lives in the pre-hospital setting, a new program was created to help animals at the scene. While BART the pet was lost at the fire, something new was created; BART the Basic Animal Rescue Training program.

     BART training is certainly worth the time and expense. Our department hosted a training session and our course was presented by Dr. Amanda Steffen, DVM. She did a wonderful job of presenting the BART class.  The training provides first responders with the skills to be better equipped to provide basic medical care, BLS resuscitation skills, and animal rescue techniques including livestock. The course also provides the hosting department a kit containing the supplies to help rescue, resuscitate and support the medical needs of animals until veterinary treatment can be arranged.

     Once a decision has been made to attempt a pet rescue, the action plan should be carefully considered and rescuer safety must remain the highest priority.

     The BART training is delivered by people who get it. They understand the value of pets to their owners and also understand those who respond to life’s worst moments. They care about pets and they care about those who respond. They understand the fire services’ dedication to saving lives and understand that we stand ready to help no matter if the life is that of a human, a beloved pet, or a wild animal that is in peril. They want to give us the tools to be better prepared to handle those calls where animals need our help and they want to deliver those skills before we are forced in to taking action for which we are neither trained nor prepared. There is nothing worse than being there and not being able to do anything. BART is there to help your department avoid that situation.

     BART offers both large animal and small animal classes. Both classes are three-hour sessions and can be offered right at your station. The minimum enrollment is 10 with the class maximum being 30. There is a charge associated with the class at $55 per student. Participating department also receive a kit with all of the equipment and materials covered in the class.

     The BART training covers methods for the safe and quick restraint and handling of companion animals, patient assessment and basic first aid techniques including CPR for dogs and cats. All of these topics are directly applicable as we respond to many different call types where we might encounter injured or frighten pets.

     Training sessions can be set up by contacting Dr. Amanda Steffen. She can be reached via email at dvmsteffen@gmail.com, by phone at 515-729-0271 or by contacting BART through their website, Bartsaveslives.org.

     Remember, it is a pet but it is seen as part of the family. That pet may mean an awful lot to the owner but the value of the pet is pale in comparison to your health and safety. We will risk a lot when there is a lot be gained. We will risk a little in a highly calculated manner when the risk to us is high. We will risk nothing when there is nothing to be gained. Often our level of risk is driven by the knowledge that if we don’t make an effort, the public will and they will face a dangerous situation that may ultimately require our intervention. Wild animals present special risk but the same rule applies – if we don’t make an effort, someone else will. Animal rescue should be considered very carefully and responders need to be prepared to deal with animals to increase the likelihood of a successful outcome for our personnel and those precious pets. BART can help you be prepared!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blaze Publications, Inc.

Jeff Gargano - Editor
P.O. Box 122
Humboldt, IA 50548
jeff@blazepublicationsinc.com

News and Advertising: News and advertising deadlines are the 15th of each month for the next month's issue.

 

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