First Responders Trained To Help Pets
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Pets often add to the dangers of a home fire. Owners may injure themselves trying to save a pet, delay calling 911 while looking for a pet or unintentionally get in the way of firefighters. Firefighter safety can be endangered when a frightened or injured pet becomes aggressive. Pets may be aggressive even toward their owners when they are frightened or hurt, making it difficult to ensure safety for people and pets.
After they're sure that everyone is out of a house fire, many families' next concern is their pets, and emotions can run high until a pet is found or receives first aid.
In 2004, firefighters in New Brighton, Minnesota, were saddened when a fire struck the home of one of their colleagues and they were unable to resuscitate the family dog from smoke inhalation.
A local veterinarian married to a firefighter responded by developing Basic Animal Rescue Training (BART). BART teaches emergency personnel how to ensure their own and others’ safety when removing pets from fires or other emergencies, and to provide first aid to pets if they are able to do so after treating people at the scene.
BART has trained instructors at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and more than 2,500 firefighters and emergency medical technicians, including every firefighter in Minneapolis. Fire departments in more than 30 states have contacted BART about training.
Before expanding to other states, BART wanted be sure trainers would be well qualified and that training would adhere to its goals to provide first responder professionals with training, knowledge and equipment to safely and effectively handle domestic animals "to help preserve human health, safety and well being."
After working with the Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management agency, BART applied for federal approval. In 2008, its rescue training for small animals was approved as a national standard course for first responders. It requires that state Veterinary Medical Associations and licensing boards approve BART training before it is presented in their state, and that lead trainers must be veterinary professionals. Volunteers may assist in training.
Federal approval also means that some funding may be available for "train the trainer" sessions and medical kits with safe restraints and first aid supplies, including oxygen masks that fit animals, which BART provides as part of its training. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when people and pets died because owners refused to be evacuated without their pets, a federal law was passed requiring that state and local emergency plans include evacuation plans for service dogs and pets
BART professional training covers:
Public and occupational health and safety
How to approach, handle and move dogs, cats and other pets, using safe restraints to prevent further injuries to people or pets, and allow emergency crews to continue their work as quickly as possible
Information on "vital signs" for animals
Basic first aid, such as using oxygen, bandaging pets and even CPR
BART urges communities to establish a system with veterinarians on call to take over animal care, and provides information on Minnesota’s systems to help them do that.
Contact BART for information. BART also offers courses on rescuing large animals and how non-medical community response teams can assist families with pets.