Tag Archives: Emergency Responder Training

Smokey Paws Multi Agency Training Day

At a recent weekend multi agency training day BARTA teamed up with the wonderful team at Smokey Paws, a non-profit organisation, to create a new training resource for first responders who use Smokey Paws oxygen therapy masks when pets are involved in emergencies and disasters. This is the beginning of a suite of training offerings from BARTA who are developing the trauma care aspect of Incidents Involving Animals in line with National Operational Guidance for the fire and rescue service. BARTA Director Jim Green said, “Provision of oxygen therapy masks for pets through charitable donations is a really worthy cause and allows emergency services to give greater support to families in trouble by helping their pets too. With 50% of households owning animals and many regarded as family members, there is a societal expectation, legal and moral duty for responders to … Continue reading

Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Smokey Paws Multi Agency Training Day

Fire and Vet Liaison Evening

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) hosted a veterinary liaison evening in conjunction with BARTA this month. Hosted at Winchester Fire Station and sponsored by Vestaplas, Farm and Stable, the evening attracted 18 members of 8 large animal veterinary practices that support the Hampshire Animal Rescue Team at large animal rescues. The purpose of the meeting was to build relationships, understand each other’s capabilities and discuss ways to support each other in dealing with animal rescues as efficiently and safely as possible. During a panel discussion, useful topics such as escorting vets to reach the scene of a road incident, creating a patient handover record for the owners regular vet and how to manage people at the scene of an incident were discussed, along with other questions that arose from past experiences. Hampshire’s experienced animal rescue team demonstrated some of … Continue reading

Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Fire and Vet Liaison Evening

Canine Encounters BARTA/Resquip Mannequin

Following on from the successful development of both the horse and cow mannequins that are already in use with response teams around the world, the operational and behavioural experts from BARTA and the designers from Resquip have collaborated on and developed a canine encounters mannequin. Designed for realistic and practical emergency response based training, the Labrador sized, fully articulated mannequin is a great addition to the range. Whether sitting, standing or using the aggressive or passive head that is supplied, it allows responders to learn and train for rescue, restraint and canine first aid both safely and effectively. The mannequin is used on our Canine Encounters Intermediate module. A 1 day course suitable for emergency responders who are required to assess and interact with canines as part of their operational role. If you want to find out more click here: … Continue reading

Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Canine Encounters BARTA/Resquip Mannequin

Wildfires – a personal story

This time last year Jim Green our Director of Operations and his family were in California whilst Jim was working for the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Doctor’s John Madigan and Claudia Sonder invited me to support them in further integrating animal issues during emergencies and disasters within the veterinary and first responder communities. The year was deemed to be exceptional in regard to disaster in northern California with extreme incidences of both fire and flood. During the 2017 wildfires in Sonoma County, myself and the Student Veterinary Emergency Team led by Dr John Madigan supported Animal Control at shelters and behind evacuation lines. They provided welfare and evacuation for animals left behind as the fires overran communities with speed and unpredictability. In 2018 those extreme fires have returned and as I write this families are without homes, emergency … Continue reading

Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Wildfires – a personal story