The LSU Equine Health Studies Program (EHSP) at the School of Veterinary Medicine recently co-hosted a four-day technical large animal emergency rescue and large animal hazardous material training course at the LSU-Fire & Emergency Training Institute (FETI) in Baton Rouge, La., October 11-14. Sponsored by the Louisiana State Animal Response Team (LSART), the primary goal of the course was to prepare and train first responders, veterinarians, and other animal care personnel to work together in order to safely and effectively save animal lives without compromising human life during a disaster.

The LSU Equine Health Studies Program and the Louisiana State Animal Response Team co-hosted a large animal emergency rescue and large animal hazardous material training course to prepare first responders, veterinarians, and other animal care personnel for disaster and emergency situations.

First responders, police officers, sheriff and deputy officials, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, animal control officials, animal shelter personnel, veterinary students, and animal/equine science students made up the group of course participants. Specific groups represented included Louisiana State Animal Response Team members from each area of the state as well as members of the LSU-EHSP, LSU-SVM Class of 2009, LSU-FETI, Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s Department, Louisiana Tech University Equine Science Program, LSU Pre-Veterinary Club, Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association, Concordia Animal Welfare, the Louisiana Racing Commission, and USDA/APHIS.

Demonstrations and hands-on exercises included basic as well as specific large animal rescue procedures. Highlighted in the training were practical animal assistance techniques, mud rescue, water rescue, vertical lift using an A-frame and rope system, vertical lift using a helicopter, night rescue of an injured horse on rough terrain, as well as HazMat training