Introduction to Event Incident Management

for horse event organisers, volunteers & riders&

Introducing the role of the Horse Welfare Officer

Horse SA 4 February 2014

Held at the University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus http://www.horsesa.asn.au/home/welfare/horse-welfare-officers/

Thank you to the University of Adelaide Roseworthy Campus

for sponsoring the workshop.

You can find out more about their new

Equine Health & Performance Centre here:

http://www.adelaide.edu.au/vetsci/centres/ehpc

/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/equinehealthcentre?fref=ts

Resources used for this workshop include:

The Australian Horse Welfare & Well-being Toolkit produced by the Australian Horse Industry Council.

Equine Emergency Rescue by MaryAnne Leighton, available through the Horse SA online store.

and Riley the Rescue horse

Workshop Aims• Why the need for this type of workshop?• Introduce the role of the horse welfare

officer• Introduce a way of managing horse event

incidents more safely& with compassion• Practice techniques to manoeuvre a

recumbent horse that considers volunteer WHS and horse welfare• Ideas to introduce ideas to your

club/event• What next for your club or event?

Photos: Friends of Hampshire Fire & Rescue

Why the need for this type of workshop?

Grow the good “name” of your horse activity

Continuous improvement in:

Horse welfare

Volunteer management (workplace safety)

Rider/driver/handler safetyImage: Australian Horse Industry Council

It just doesn’t happen to us

• Horse collapses from heat exhaustion (competition, travel)• Horse dies from heart attack or other medical condition• Horse goes “down” undertaking or in relation to the activity, which

may also involve a rider• Horse gets into trouble in the float/wash bay/ non-competition areas• Horse escapes the grounds and gets into life-threating trouble (e.g. car

vs. horse)• Horse is euthanased on the event site for any number of reasons e.g.

colic

So we don’t need a plan, training or equipment Image: Australian Horse Industry

Council

When it all goes pear-shaped……….

Make the scene safe for volunteers to work in. At your activity - who “steps up” to start to control the incident?Managing the incident involves undertaking a risk assessment which may include

- stop or divert the event/traffic/other horses - care for & manage people (humans come first!) - considerations for horse welfare- restrain a loose/uncontrolled horse (s) - manage spectators - remove or manage hazards

PLAN the response CONDUCT the response DEBRIEF afterwards + records

Achieving an organised response with a few volunteers. Appointing roles as part of a plan. Know your limits.

PRACTICAL Session 1

1. Positioning people around distressed recumbent horses

2. Practice Hot Zone, Warm Zone, Cold Zone & tool dump

3. Discuss human behaviour when horses are distressed (rider/owner/spectator)

4. Discuss horse behaviour when stressed5. Place an emergency halter on Riley6. Place a head collar on: off-side access only7. Encouraging a horse that is recumbent, to

stay that way

DISCUSSION: Heat policies used by organisations

PRACTICAL Session 2

Review basic equipment For a small club:

• Human PPE

• 2 x Tarpaulins - for covering a horse & (strong) one for underneath

• 4 or more tarpaulins for screening

• 2 x 4WD straps with sewn loops

• Spare strong rope

• Towels

• Walking cane

• 1 lunge rein & 1 lunge whip

• Horse float

• Cleaning kit (biosecurity/human health)

Review better equipment For a small club:

• Human PPE (incl. biosecurity kit)

• Tarpaulins or other customised cover for a deceased horse

• Rescue glide (could be venue based)

• At least one set of screens (could be venue based)

• Set large animal rescue straps , ropes, carabineers

• Strop guide

• 2 pole hooks

• Security/barriers to manage spectators

• Horse ambulance

• Cleaning kit (biosecurity/human health)

Strop Guide

Rescue Glide

PRACTICAL Session 3

“The Zones” & Allocation of Job Roles

1. Set up the zones around Riley the Rescue Horse

2. Allocate & discuss roles

3. Volunteer workplace safety considerations in relation to moving a horse (heavy lift/drag/confined spaces)

4. Practice covering Riley with a tarpaulin

5. Practice screening Riley

6. Know the capabilities and constraints around your club/event/volunteers abilities to manage an incident

The Role of a VeterinarianSmall horse events/activities are not likely to have an attending veterinarian.

Often, all that volunteers can do is stabilise the situation and wait until a veterinarian arrives, keeping the horse calm & preparing a safe area for the horse to “go to” afterwards

What access to a veterinarian does your event have? A vet should also attend a case of a deceased horse at an event.

Sedation will be required, or euthanasia, before a horse can be safety manoeuvred out of the situation and from the venue.

Fortunately, an increasing number of equine veterinarians are now familiar with Large Animal Rescue techniques. In addition large animal capabilities of emergency services in SA are improving.

Discussion: Club policies for the management of horses who need to be euthanased at an event venue.

• Using empathetic verbal and non-verbal communication

• Awareness that others may be distressed

• Communication must be clear & concise to complete the management of the response in a timely manner

• Handling the deceased horse’s limbs, head and body carefully. All parts of the horse to travel together

• Keep the deceased horse covered with a tarpaulin, even behind the screen

Handling Deceased Horses with Dignity

Photo: Friends of Hampshire Fire & Rescue

• Placing personal belongings associated with the horse into a separate vehicle

• Clearing & tidying the accident scene prior to taking down the screens

• Driving the horse ambulance at a sedate and considered speed, using the same driving skills as for live horses

• Maintain confidentiality at all times

• Not leaving a deceased horse uncovered or unattended

Handling Deceased Horses with Dignity

Photo: Friends of Hampshire Fire & Rescue

Handling a Horse during Euthanasia

Video (WARNING: a horse is put to sleep)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqyF4E019uI

Tips (Page 27 Australian Horse Welfare & Well-being Toolkit):

• A competent horse handler, who is in a position to follow instructions, is required to assist the veterinarian

• Equipment includes a strong head collar and long leads/lunge reins.

• Prepare the area for the horse to lay after euthanasia. The horse may be able to be guided onto a glide or tarpaulin as it becomes recumbent.

• Wear PPE

• Wait until the horse has been confirmed as deceased by the veterinarian before moving extra people back into the hot zone

PRACTICAL Session 4

Large Animal Rescue Techniques

Roll Over1. View the video/demonstration2. Make the scene safe. Set up the zones.

Allocate job roles3. Practice a roll-over onto a glide

Sideways Skid - As above

PRACTICAL Session 5

Remove a Deceased Horse away from your event

A. Discuss ways to move a recumbent horse into a float

B. Using what you have learnt so far, set up a team who will remove a deceased horse from the main arena of competition, onto a float.

Care for & Manage People

This workshop has a focus on the horse, however, there needs to be people allocated to care for and manage other people at the scene

• Provide medical help for injured riders, officials, spectators

• Manage uninjured emotional riders, strappers, family

• Spectator control

Most clubs will by now have appointed “Member Protection Officers” (Human Welfare Officers) or an equivalent whose role it is to manage members requirements and be a part of the club or events practices in relation to child protection, grievance procedures etc.

Remember that the new national WHS laws cover volunteer roles and also now includes physical & psychological.

Photos: Friends of Hampshire Fire & Rescue

Separate reports are required for people and horses. Write the report asap after the incident, and within 24 hrs. Some events will have a template form to complete.

1. Basic facts. The time, date and exact location of the incident Your name and role. Names of others who were present. Use a template form if available.

2. What happened? Keep facts to what actually did happen, not what you think might have happened. Who. What. When. How. Why.

3. Photographs: to record weather, surface conditions, hazards etc. may be added

4. Submit the report to the event organiser

Photo: Friends of Hampshire Fire & Rescue

Incident Reporting (People &Horses)

Ideas for Promoting Horse Welfare at Events/Activities

• Appointment of a veterinarian (or on call for smaller events)• Appointment of a horse welfare officer• Horse Ambulances, trained volunteers & equipment is

available at each event• a health status as part of event entry incl. vaccination

status• Regular review of rules, policies & procedures• Education opportunities for members/participants• Regularly review venue improvements (e.g. more shade)• Liaise with your local emergency service group (CFS, SES)

of any gatherings of horses & people. (provide a calendar of events to the station)

Photo: Australian Horse Industry Council

Understand capabilities of emergency services

& your event/activity volunteer limitations

Photo: Friends of Hampshire Fire & Rescue

http://www.komonews.com/news/25666879.html http://rspcacymru.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/horse-11.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18794841 http://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2012/feb/28/horse-freed-mud-in-pictures

www.horsesa.asn.au

Where to from here for your activity?

• Share this presentation and the resources used with your colleagues• Place horse welfare onto your meeting agenda• Appoint a Horse Welfare Officer (HWO)• Start to write a plan how incidents will be managed • Arrange for volunteer/committee training in this topic area to suit

your specific focus (in SA this can be arranged through Horse SA or the University of Adelaide, interstate references can be supplied)• Advise Horse SA of who your HWO is, as we can potentially provide

further training, hold discussion groups etc. as the network grows

Thank you

Horse SAPO Box 20Wayville South Australia 5034www.horsesa.asn.auE:horsesa@horsesa.asn.auMob: 0402488306

Photos from the Large Animal Rescue Level 2 course June 2013 Horse SA

Remember to check the Horse SA website for upcoming events!