In late April the Blackpool Fire Department was able to coordinate a Livestock Emergency Response Course (LERC) sponsored by the Horse Council BC (HCBC).
Mike Savage, Chief of the Blackpool Fire Department (BPFD) recognized the need for a coordinated approach to accidents by first responders. Included were fire department members from Little Fort, Blackpool, Clearwater and Vavenby, as well as members of the Back Country Horsemen of BC, North Thompson Chapter.
The two-day course was held April 29 and 30th and HCBC arranged and financed a highly qualified presenter, Jennifer Woods, from Blackie, Alberta. She is a livestock handling specialist, an advisor and instructor who teaches widely throughout Canada and the USA.
The goal of the course was to be prepared to handle emergencies involving livestock before they happen and as they are presented in an emergency.
Day one was a classroom format. A comprehensive manual was supplied, and instruction included graphic and often disturbing videos and photos of accidents involving animals of all types. Topics included identification and mitigation of human, animal and property risk, bio-security, transportation issues and chain of command at accident scenes. It was a full day of learning with a nice lunch break of pizza supplied by the BPFD.
Day two was held at Kicking Horse Farm in Blackpool (the Morrison’s). This was another full day participating in awareness of equine behaviour and handling.
We had several different types of stock and horse trailers to practice escape methods and hazard awareness in entrapment situations. Horse Council provided a specialty trailer which we brought up from the coast with “Calamity”, a full-sized model horse. Calamity was staged in different situations, in ditches, between trees, under fences and trapped in unusual places. The course participants were divided into four teams, each lead by a chosen incident commander. They had to use their shared knowledge to safely free Calamity without further injury to the horse or the rescue members. As well, several real horses were turned loose in the arena and encouraged to run. Each team had to settle the excited horses before catching them, haltering and leading them to a controlled area. This involved haltering correctly or making emergency rope halters. Not always an easy job for those not used to excited stock, but all did well. Much was learned by experienced horse owners as well as those not familiar with horses.
The HCBC trailer came with an established rescue kit and the BPFD has undertaken the job of building this specifically for use in emergencies involving livestock in our area. It includes leather gloves, cattle and horse halters, leads, fencing tools, zip ties, blindfolds, lariats and cotton ropes and tow straps for dragging animals.
We appreciate the financial support of Horse Council BC, the expertise of Jennifer Woods, M. of Science (J. Woods Livestock Services), the Back Country Horsemen and friends that supplied trailers, horses and lunch for all. This weekend was a successful base for supporting livestock owners in the North Thompson and those using our roads and highways as they travel through our area.
