By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

CARSON CITY, Mich. — Being prepared can help save lives if a fire or other emergency strikes a farm.

Meadow View Veterinary Service, P.C, and WinterSpring Farm Dressage hosted an equine fire safety clinic Sept. 12 near Carson City. Participants learned about the importance of having a fire safety plan and how to write one and how to handle horses during an emergency, and viewed dressage riding demonstrations.

Mike Thome, DVM, owner of Meadow View Veterinary Service, said he and his wife, Sue, are in the process of writing a fire safety plan for their farm and felt it was an important topic to share with others.
“Fire safety is something that we tend to think we’ll look into later, and we tend to be unprepared when it happens,” he said. “It’s an important health issue that we haven’t seen covered anywhere else.”

Michigan State University extension groundwater educator Christina Curell explained the elements of an emergency preparedness plan. She discussed items such as creating a detailed map of a farm with building locations and building content lists, including where animals are housed, location of a well and septic system and a detailed explanation of chemicals or other flammable or potentially toxic materials that may be located in barns or outbuildings.

“This may be the most important part of an emergency plan,” she said. “In buildings, it’s important to note where exits are so we know where we can get animals out. It’s also important to know where pastures are, where fuel storages are, both above ground and underground, and if you have chemicals, where they are located.

“If a barn is on fire, local fire departments don’t have to go in. It’s not the safest thing for them to enter a building if they don’t know what’s in it. As the owner, you are required to let them know what’s in the barn before they go in,” she said. “Legally, you really should have a plan in place to protect you.”

Curell also talked about the importance of documenting emergency contact information for entities such as the local fire department, a veterinarian, a neighbor or family member to contact in case the owner is unavailable. She and other agricultural planners provided booklets that outline all the information necessary to create an emergency preparedness plan.

In addition, they distributed water-resistant tubes in which to place the materials. The tubes are designed to be mounted with “zip strips” to a telephone pole or other pole in the farm’s yard where the information will be easily accessible to fire officials or other emergency responders.

Judy Marteniuk, DVM, MS, with the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, offered tips for the care and handling of horses during emergency situations.

“If you’re going to deal with horses in any type of emergency situation, you need to understand equine behavior,” Marteniuk said. “Horses are prey animals. If there is a problem, their instinct is to run.”

She warned the group that horses also “have a really good ability to read body language.” It’s important to stay calm during an emergency situation because horses can sense nervousness and anxiety and they will also become nervous or anxious.

During her presentation, Marteniuk explained the best way to approach a horse is from the side and to stay close to the animal. “The closer you are to them, the safer you are,” she said. “All they can really do to you then is step on your toe and push you.”

Marteniuk explained a variety of tips, from how to properly halter a horse, to how to deal with a wound or broken bone. She warned participants not to remove a foreign object that may be impaled into an animal because doing so could lead to further injury. She said it is important for owners to assess any situation before calling for help.

“Before an emergency, learn to assess your healthy horses,” she said. “During an emergency take a minute to stay calm and assess the situation. Don’t panic.

Get the information you need before you call the vet.”
She also urged the crowd to keep transportation available and in working condition. People without a trailer should have a plan to get one in an emergency.

Also, she stressed the importance of deciding in advance whether hauling an animal to an emergency care facility is really an option.
“If it is not, don’t put the animal through transporting them,” she said. “You have to think about the well-being of your horse and the financial aspect of treatment.”

Marteniuk also suggested all equine owners take emergency numbers with them while traveling. “If you’re traveling, it’s nice to have a plan of where you will take your horse if you have a problem,” she said.

She also urged participants to keep a first aid kit handy that include items such as a twitch, duct tape, wire cutters, rope, a saw, diapers or other clean absorbent materials, dressing materials, drugs, syringes, needles and other items. She suggested participants visit the American Assoc. of Equine Practitioners website at www.AAEP.org for a detailed list of items to include in a first aid kit.

In addition to the two presentations, participants viewed riding demonstrations in the farm’s outdoor arena.

Event sponsors included Boehringer Ingelheim, Fort Dodge, Harvey’s Milling and Purina Feeds, Lynnman Construction, Midwest Veterinary Supply and Pfizer. Visit Meadow View Veterinary Clinic’s website at www.meadowviewvetservice.com for more information.