"Changing the Way You Learn"TM

New Horse Rescue Equipment and Techniques

Training, teamwork and techniques are critical to a successful equine response

How many times have you seen a horse and rider in need of rescue and people unsure of what to do? Would you know who to call, or what to do in a life threatening situation to make sure they were safely rescued? The riding season is upon us, whether for pleasure, horse shows, events or racing, with millions of horses throughout the world, it is inevitable that some of them will need to be rescued from places like ravines, ditches, collapsed barns, overturned trailers, riding trails, tracks, show rings, or injured in a field. Now for the first time people can be trained how to do horse rescues using "Lucky" the horse mannikin and a rope technique developed by a team of EMT rescue firefighters. "Lucky" is a new life-sized horse mannikin used to safely learn hands-on training of emergency search and rescue techniques. "Lucky" the horse mannikin has articulating limbs, a tail feature as an attachment point, realistic training weight and a height of 15 hands. It will accept standard horse harnesses, glides and gear. "Lucky" can be used in all weather, mud, water and is designed for training indoors or out in any situation a real horse might be in. It is specifically designed to train emergency search and rescue techniques to fire and police departments, SAR units, military, government agencies, animal control, humane organizations, veterinarians and equine groups. Craig Jones, President of Rescue Critters! stated; "Our animal mannikins provide realistic training to learn life saving techniques, practice them safely and to be prepared for animal emergencies."

"Lucky " was developed because of the effort of many people who were concerned about horses, how they are rescued, the techniques used and available equipment. John and Deb Fox, EMT/Firefighters of the Felton Volunteer Fire Department in California along with Greg Malloy, also a firefighter, have developed a training curriculum and manual on large animal rescue techniques. David Kovar, Commanding Officer of First Special Response Group (1SRG) also became instrumental in making "Lucky" a reality. Everyone involved believed using a realistic mannikin for practicing rescue techniques was needed to learn the skills. David Kovar stated: "Lucky will be a way for people to learn real skills and do the best job possible in rescuing horses and people. The rope techniques that the Foxs have developed can be taught to trainers who in turn can train others and pass on the skills."

On Saturday, March 9, 2002 at the Santa Cruz Horseman's Association, there was a rescue demonstration using a new realistic horse mannikin, Lucky", in several situations such as extricating the horse and rider from a ravine, getting it on a glide and into a trailer for transport. Also "Lucky" was rescued from an overturned trailer which simulates a vehicle accident. This was an opportunity for the rescue team, paramedics and an equine veterinarian to practice their skills in saving a horse and rider, without the need of a live horse. Barbara Clarke stated after watching the rescue: "As it is with any new technology, it is not just something new added to the world, but it is a new world entirely. I looked at all of the people involved, saw the precise skills put into action to save one human and one horse and watched the world turn ever so slightly in the direction of life for horses, who in the past would have been euthanized. And in that shift for the horses comes a shift for humans toward a more meaningful and compassionate society."

Effective teamwork, techniques and training are critical to a successful equine response. The rescue team from the Equine/Large Animal Rescue unit of the Felton Volunteer Fire Department is headed by Captain John Fox. Recently, the Large Animal Rescue - Operational FSTEP #1247 (Fire Services Training and Education Program, a part of California State Fire Training) was approved by STEAC (State Training and Education Advisory Committee) for adoption by the California State Board of Fire Services. "Lucky" is used specifically for this State approved fire course developed by Captain John Fox, Head of Felton FPD's LAR Unit. Captain Fox stated, "As seasoned veterans of numerous LAR incidents, we have used Rescue Critters! brand "Lucky" the Horse mannikin extensively in our training course to develop the skills of emergency professionals and horse owners for Technical Large Animal Rescue. Lucky allows us to place the students in scenarios that recreate the challenges of real-life LAR incidents, on-road or off-road. The feel and articulation of Lucky closely simulates a sedated horse. Students are able to learn positioning and perfect the skills necessary for the application of rescue equipment in a safe, efficient manner."

The course shows how to rescue large animals using halters, leads, ropes, parts of fire hose, strapping, webbing, carabineers and pulleys used in rope rescue operations, assorted other equipment usually found on a fire truck and a Rescue Glide which allows them to move an animal as you would a person on a backboard. It will be available through the California State Fire Academy for the training of firefighters. It will also be of benefit to Animal Control officers, Law enforcement officers, Large Animal Veterinarians and horse owners and horse evac teams. An animal can be placed on the glide, then moved into a trailer where it can be transported to a medical facility for treatment. Just as important are the team of paramedics working to save the person, they need to know how to respond while working around a horse or large animal. During the rescue demonstration the paramedics from American Medical Response practiced rescuing a rider partially pinned under a horse.

Fire depts. will benefit from using the Rescue Critters! "Lucky" Mannikin because they will be able to learn and perfect skills in a safe, efficient manner. Scenarios that could never be staged with live animals can be recreated with "Lucky". These include a horse in a rolled over trailer, horse in a hole, horse in a ravine with a rider underneath, horse in mud, etc. Any real incident that has happened can be recreated with "Lucky". These situations will allow emergency responders to perfect all aspects of rescue including scene management and communications, equipment, technical skills and operations.

Did you know most people in the United States call 911, or the nearest fire department for help, but not all 911 centers are set up to handle the correct routing? In Santa Cruz County, with one call to 911, a pre-arranged agreement allows for the fire department which can be easily mobilized and dispatched to an equine incident and supportive services such as the local animal control agency and a veterinarian to join the scene. Mutual aid agreements allow departments, which take a special interest in Equine Rescue to assist untrained departments. This existing system is an ideal support systems which allow the fire department to take control of the situation and acquire resources as necessary in a timely way. There is an effort under way to have all 911 centers dispatch teams for horse rescue. How does your county or country handle a horse rescue situation?

Fire depts. can benefit from the course because it teaches them how to keep themselves safe on scene and how not to pose a danger to others through inappropriate behavior. They learn what motivates the horse as a prey animal and how to prevent and diffuse critical situations by paying attention to the horse handler and vet, and by working to apply rescue skills in a quiet, calm manner. Responders learn to work "in concert" with each other.

The concept of Rescue Critters! brand animal mannikins came from realizing that there was a lack of training mannikins to teach people pet first aid skills, pet CPR, training devices and mannikins for veterinary education, and for search and rescue training. Rescue Critters!, LLC is a California based company which produces these innovative, high quality mannikins. Examples for pet first aid and CPR are, "Jerry K-9 CPR" and "CeePeR Dog." They also have "K-9 Critical Care Jerry" and the cat mannikin "Critical Care Fluffy" along with several others for advanced veterinary use. "Lucky" is the latest product of Rescue Critters! brand mannikins and adds to the Search and Rescue mannikins which includes "Fetch the Dog K-9 SAR" a perfect training tool for SAR, animal regulations and police K-9 units.

Since 1998 Rescue Critters! brand mannikins has continued to expand its product line and are now used throughout the United States. Sales continue to grow all over the world and you can find Rescue Critters! brand mannikins in such countries as Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Sarajevo, the UK, Chile, Germany, Italy, China, and Malaysia to name only a few.

Rescue Critters! has the support of search and rescue, the veterinary community, government, animal educators, humane organizations and the public. With an ever expanding need for veterinary education, public needs, military, police, fire departments, and SAR groups for quality training equipment, Rescue Critters! brand mannikins will grow with new sciences and fill the need for high quality animal training mannikins. For more information on Rescue Critters! brand animal mannikins contact Craig Jones at 818-780-7860 or visit their website at www.rescuecritters.com.

Friday Forsthoff is the president of Animal Voices - An Animal Marketing and Public Relations Firm based in Davis, California and on the internet at www.animalvoices.com Friday Forsthoff provides marketing and public relations advice for the animal/pet industry and is regularly sought out by the media as a source for expert opinions on animal/pet marketing. She writes for several magazines and has a column on VIN.com for veterinarians. 2002.

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