Description
Incidents involving horses on the road network, for example road traffic collisions involving horse boxes and lorries or where ridden horses are hit by cars, and other incidents where horses become trapped in ditches, bogs, ponds and rivers are common. Veterinary attendance is mandatory for the Fire and Rescue Service to be able to deal with the incident and with around 5000 incidents per year across the UK, attendance at incidents involving horses is something that all vets need to be ready for. Vets are an integral part of the rescue team and need skills and training in incident command, tactical planning, dynamic risk assessment, rescue techniques and chemical restraint in order to be effective. This presentation will cover the latest concepts and best working practices of what vets need to before, during and after the incident. Before the incident, preparation and training are essential. This involves not just having all the required kit, drugs and consumables ready-to-go in a grab-bag, but also that all members of the practice team understand their role. During the incident, confidence with chemical restraint (sedation and anaesthesia) and with triage to identify the non-viable or seriously injured casualty is vital. After the incident, being able to deliver immediate care on scene and recognising those horses that need onwards transport for specialist care is central to achieving a casualty-centred rescue and the best possible outcome for the horse.
