Firefighters get large animal emergency training

Public Education and Information Officer Jeremy Robshaw reported to the St. Johns County news desk of Historic City News that 35 firefighters from St Johns County and Clay County Technical Rescue Teams spent Easter weekend learning large animal rescue techniques.

The Large Animal Technical Rescue Team with the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, veterinary students from the Public Health and Service Club (PHSC) and a Florida Veterinary Reserve Corps veterinarian, participated in the training exercises.

The firefighters and PHSC students gathered at the Star 4 Ranch and learned about safety around a horse during a rescue, techniques for safely moving a horse on the ground with webbing, “packaging” a horse for transport and the safe use of lifting systems on large animals.

These basic techniques were applied to scenarios involving rescuing the “packaged” horse up a steep embankment, using an “A” Frame (a portable crane system) to lift a downed horse from a hole and righting an overturned horse trailer.

The UF CMV Large Animal Technical Rescue Team is a volunteer team, with training and equipment funded through grants and donations. It and the “VETS” team are part of the Florida State Agricultural Response Team and are a deployable resource available to assist anywhere in the state during a declared disaster.

The team performs training with the PHSC to help prepare veterinary students to be responders in their own communities upon graduation. The team completes training in the North Central and Central FL area to help firefighters and first responders operate confidently and correctly during large animal emergencies.