Responding to accidents is never easy for law enforcement officers and other first responders, especially when other factors — like accidents involving animals during transport — complicate the accident scene, explains Michigan State University’s Beth Ferry in the latest MSU Extension News.
In order to increase the skills and understanding of responders to accidents involving livestock, Michigan State University Extension’s Emergency Response to Accidents Involving Livestock (ERAIL) program focuses on building a network of trained and properly equipped responders across Michigan.
Utilizing a multi-faceted approach, the program provides information, resources and training for law enforcement officials, first responders, animal control officers, veterinarians, road commission workers, livestock transporters, people involved in the animal agriculture industry and others who may respond to accidents involving livestock. Some of the ERAIL team’s priorities include virtual training, accessibility to specialized equipment and networking, along with providing hands-on, practical training.
The MSU Extension ERAIL team recently partnered with Michigan Pork Producers Association, United Dairy Industry of Michigan and Michigan Turkey to bring first responders to Michigan State University for this specific training.
Emergency responders putting new animal handling skills to practice. Photo provided by ERAIL.
“We have a highly trained community of first responders across Michigan that are extremely good at responding to accident situations, however when an accident scene also involves animals, it becomes very chaotic, very fast,” Tom Guthrie, ERAIL team member said in a release. “This is why it is important to provide training for first responders on animal handling and behavior, along with providing access to the specialized equipment needed for these specific accident response situations.”
Industry experts shared insight on animal behavior and handling and participants put their newly learned or enhanced skills to work with beef cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens, using handling tools and equipment to move them and practice loading and unloading the animals onto trailers used for transportation.
According to Mary Kelpinski, CEO of Michigan Pork Producers Association, opportunities that allow first responders to gain hands-on experience handling animals is key to making the ERAIL program successful.
“The ERAIL program in Michigan will continue to grow and provide much-needed training and resources for our emergency response community. Efforts are underway to source and place the additional specialized equipment needed for accident response in the form of ERAIL Response trailers strategically located across the state in areas of major animal transportation routes,” Ferry wrote. “By providing training and access to specialized equipment, Michigan will become better prepared to respond to accidents involving livestock. This supports the safety of the first responders, the general public traveling the roads and supports the welfare of the animals involved in these situations while also supporting the vast animal agriculture industries we have in the state.”
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