BARTA Training for technical large animal rescue:
Target audience are rescue services, livestock farmers and everyone working with (large) animals
Pictured on the left: Jim Greene, BARTA Director of Operations, on the right: Ronald Rongen, LSSE
Source photos Neil Rae (BARTA), Ronald Rongen
SOME OF THE REASONS WHY HORSES WILL RUN BACK INTO A BURNING BARN
Eighteen horses died in a fire at a horse stable on the night of Wednesday, July 24, to Thursday, July 25, according to a fire department spokesman. The horse barn was completely destroyed by the fire.
Only two horses could be rescued out of the stable. No persons were injured.
Firefighters ask me in response to this sad incident, by virtue of my position as an accredited BARTA INSTRUCTOR LARGE ANIMAL RESCUE RESPONDER, ( one of only two in Europe), how horse owners and equestrian center owners can safely and quickly evacuate their horses in the event of a barn fire.
It is unfortunately the reality that when there is a barn fire, horses do not want to go outside, or even run back into the barn.
Why they do this is not entirely known, however a number of factors play a role:
- It's their “safety place,” many horses stay there almost the entire day!
They quickly associate the barn and their horsebox with feed/water and their herd mates.
- This additionally triggers the herd instinct in the horses.
I often see that when some horses are removed from the barn, the remaining horses become visibly more nervous and stressed.
In such a situation, especially in barn fires, you see the released horses returning to the burning barn to find out what is going on with their straggling counterparts.
- Strange smells, strange and loud noises increase stress levels quickly in both humans and animals!
TRAIN YOUR HORSES FOR EMERGENCIES:
- Horses that are trained to leave the barn quickly in the event of danger often do not return to the barn.
They are used to the escape route and do not see this way out as “unknown danger.”
They have done it before and quickly understand how to react to emergencies and where to go safely.
- Horses are fortunately easy to train on this, both individually and also as a group.
- In emergency situations, despite this training, horses can get injured; at fire, all animals are evacuated as quickly as possible, including those that normally never go outside at the same time!
This can lead to unexpected reactions in horses. (I do not exclude this as one of the main reasons, why horse owners do not practice such an evacuation drill...).
THE HERD EFFECT:
- This can lead to dangerous situations, especially for the people trying to rescue the animals and for the emergency responders at the scene.
- While emergency responders are used to dealing with barn fires and individuals who panic, a group of horses running back into the barn in a panic to check out the situation with their peers is something completely different.
THEREFORE, BE WELL PREPARED FOR ANY EMERGENCY:
- Do you have an evacuation plan?
- Do you have a logical and orderly walking route to ensure that you can get all horses out of the barn quickly and in an organized manner safely?
- Is this walking route free of obstacles?
- Is everyone aware of which are the entrances and exits in case of an emergency?
- Does the area outside provide a place for the horses to go and from which they cannot get back into the barn?
- Is your property fenced such that horses cannot walk on public roads (this fencing also keeps outsiders off the property!).
- Describe and write down your evacuation plan and discuss it with staff/family members and the fire department.
- Not all firefighters know how to handle horses in panic situations, no one can blame them for that!
ALL THIS CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN A BARN FIRE, BOTH FOR THE HORSES AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH AND FOR YOU!
Source photos Ronald Rongen
Low Stress Stockmanship Europe participated in the BARTA 2024 conference at the School of Veterinary Medicine in Glasgow, Scotland
12 -14 June 2024
The BARTA Conference 2024 was held at the University of Glasgow in Scotland.
The conference was particularly aimed at national and international emergency services, veterinary and animal welfare professionals, emergency responders and anyone charged with rescuing animals in crisis.
As many as 13 countries were represented at the conference
Topics included Animal Rescue / Trauma Care / Community Resilience / Role of the Volunteer / Wildlife Response / Climate Change / Mass Casualty Triage / Small Animal Emergency Care / Large Animal Lifting / Flooding and Water Response / Post Incident Learning / Pre Veterinary Immediate Care / Medical Challenges In Fire and Flood / Creating a Community of Practice, were discussed.
Whether it was a cow that fell into the manure pit, a horse stuck in the horsebox or a livestock truck involved in a traffic accident.
All of these issues were discussed in detail.
There was even an entire day of discussion on the issues of large fires, waterlogging and flooding.
Unsurprisingly, these issues are of global concern, which became painfully clear at the conference.
LSSE and BARTA are working intensively together to educate and train emergency responders as well as anyone working with horses and/or (large) farm animals.
This is necessary..., do you know exactly what to do in case of an emergency with your horse, cattle or pigs?
This unique conference will continue to inspire excellence in animal rescue!
Source photos: Neil Rae (BARTA)
May 2024
Preliminary meeting in the Netherlands for the upcoming BARTA Conference 2024, Glasgow, Scotland
BARTA Conference 2024, Glasgow, Scotland: Entitled “Global Solutions To Tackle Local Issues”
- Aimed at national and international emergency services, veterinary and welfare professionals, emergency responders and community resilience planners. This unique conference continues to inspire excellence in animal response!
June 12th-14th 2024, in partnership with Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine, Scotland.
Source photo Ronald Rongen
Pictured from left to right:
- Joris Wijnker
Visiting researcher at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences - Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Utrecht University,
- Jim Green
Director at the UK Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association, (BARTA) and animal rescue specialist at the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service,
- Ronald Rongen
Researcher and Expert in Farm Animal Behavior, Specialist in Species-Appropriate Animal Husbandry, Instructor Technical Large Animal Rescue, Animal Ethologist.
May 2024
RONALD RONGEN IS ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE EUROPEAN UNION TO HAVE ACQUIRED THE ACCREDITED "BARTA INSTRUCTOR LARGE ANIMAL RESCUE RESPONDER" LICENSE
The standardization of rescue training for large (farm) animals for fire and rescue services in Europe is, (following the English standard) a big step closer in May 2024. On May 3 2024, Ronald Rongen (LSSE) was one of the first in the European union to pass the internationally highly regarded and recognized instructor course of the British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association, (BARTA).
After an intensive training in England and after completing both theoretical and practical assessments, all participants (5 English professional Firefighters and Ronald), successfully passed the exam.
Supporting first responders in solving emergencies involving animals.
With verified, safe and welfare oriented plans, that's what drives me to represent BARTA worldwide.
BARTA is world renowned for its good reputation and is in a unique position when it comes to bringing together expertise from different industries and specialties.
Their joint collaboration will impact the future of animal incident management across a broad spectrum of agencies and applications.
From localized animal incidents to large-scale emergencies and disasters involving multiple agencies.
As an example, consider the increase in flooding that is becoming more and more frequent.
This fact requires a focused approach even in animal rescue and therefore poses great challenges to rescue services.
The common goal of both LSSE and BARTA is to train, motivate and inspire people by creating opportunities and leaving “Inspiring excellence in animal welfare and animal response” as a legacy for our future generations.
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS FOR 'LSSE' AND 'BARTA' AND WHAT IS THE LINK TO ANIMAL HUSBANDRY?
- Building a network of knowledge on standardization of rescue training of large (farm) animals on a European level according to the proven BBARTA concept,
- Information, education and (practical) training to everyone working with or handling large (farm) animals,
- Education, information, instruction and training for veterinary professionals, agricultural farms, agricultural schools, agricultural colleges, agricultural study clubs, etc.
Please feel free to contact me here for further information, and be inspired to excellence in animal welfare and animal response.
Ronald Rongen
Source photos Ronald Rongen
May 2024
Practical training of professional Firefighters:
- Threading techniques (the four ‘assistants’ in a total of six variations)
- Working with Webbing Strop (5m / 7m / 9m), Limb Crook and the Strop Guide.
- Proper application of a Medical Suspension Harness and how to use a Quick Release Spreader Bar.
Source photos Ronald Rongen
Incidents Involving Animals "SELECT"
S - Safety:
Are the safety measures in place proportionate to the risk and does everyone on scene understand the risk?
E - Environment:
What are the environmental factors and how do they impact the complexity of the incident, the skill sets required to operate within or achieve a rescue.
L - Leadership:
Do we have the right leadership in place, are they working together and do they have shared situational awareness?
E - Equipment:
Is equipment fit for purpose, available in an acceptable timeframe and adaptable for the tasks required?
C - Casualty:
In the plan casualty centric and do we have appropriate and sufficient veterinary responders on scene?
T - Techniques:
Are the techniques appropriate for the animal and any medical or physiological needs.
Source text BARTA
May 2024
By invitation, I was a guest of the "Weilerswist Volunteer Fire Brigade".
For everyone interested in large animal rescue techniques, it was an interesting and educational day.
Also the local press showed interest, which is very much appreciated.
After a theoretical part at the fire station, the practical part followed on a nearby dam.
First of all the basic equipment necessary for the rescue of large animals was explained.
After that, following operating procedures were extensively practiced:
- Improvised Halter and Head Collars
- Animal Rescue Carry Sheet
- Threading techniques (the four ‘assistants’ in a total of six variations)
- Strop Guide
- Heavy Duty Limb Crook
- Webbing Strops (5m / 7m / 9m)
- Practical demonstration of how "Rollover" and "Controlled Rollover" work in operation
- Rescue Harness Set (2x rescue strops plus anti spill straps)
- Medical Suspension Harness
- Considerations when mechanically lifting and lowering animals in a Rescue Harness
- How to use a Quick Release Spreader Bar.
Source photos Ronald Rongen
April 2024
On invitation, I was as a guest of the “Volunteer Fire Brigade of the Cloppenburg District Fire Brigade Association”.
On the program was “Rescue training for fire and rescue services for the purpose of rescuing large animals”.
After the theoretical part at the fire station, the practical part followed near a water collection basin.
First of all the basic equipment necessary for the rescue of large animals was explained.
After that, following operating procedures were extensively practiced:
- Improvised Halter and Head Collars
- Rescue Glide; Glide Bar / Auxiliary Glide Sheets
- Animal Rescue Carry Sheet
- Webbing Strops (5m / 7m / 9m)
- Heavy Duty Limb Crook
- Threading techniques (the four ‘assistants’ in a total of six variations)
- Strop Guide
- Practical demonstration of how "Rollover" and "Controlled Rollover" work in operation
- Rescue Harness Set (2x rescue strops plus anti spill straps)
- Medical Suspension Harness
- Considerations when mechanically lifting and lowering animals in a Rescue Harness
- How to use a Quick Release Spreader Bar.
Source photos Ronald Rongen