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Animal Rescues: Risks vs. Benefits
We’re seeing a lot of dog rescues making the news lately. All across the country, man’s best friends are finding themselves in a struggle between life or death at the mercy of Mother Nature.
It’s hard NOT to do everything possible to save lives, but there are fire departments and rescue teams that have standing orders AGAINST animal rescues.
Why do think this is?
Weighing the risks vs. benefits when called for an animal rescue, where should we draw the line?
Can you identify the advantages and disadvantages of either decision?
Blog post from FireDaily.com
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Michael A. Pimental on
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I agree it's good PR. It's hard enough to get the votes for a new engine when we need it. Never should a human life be traided for an animal but it is good training. If the fire dept does not do it, someone else will. then we will be finding ourselves in harms way anyway. As seen on the news the firefighter who was lowered down to rescue the dog in Cali was tp to hospital for dog bites. I would do the same thing even knowing i could get bit. I have to dogs i love and would hope someone would try to help them as I would if it was there dogs. Thats just my opinion.
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Permalink Reply by Ron Ayotte on
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I agree 1000%
A few years ago.. we had a report of a person through the ice on the lake who went to try to rescue his dog.
The man self extricated, but the dog was still out there. We donned our cold water exposure suits, tethered in and went to get the dog. The dog was getting tired.... but when he saw us, he got another burst of energy and swam over to us. We were able to get the dog out.
The PR we got for that was priceless.
Of course, safety would come first in any situation.
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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I can attest I have been on both sides of the GO / NO-GO thought process. I was personally involved in a moose, yes (bull winkle the moose) rescue through the ice on a lake. Quite a ways out from shore... We were requested special call for our Rescue Company mutual aid, (30 minute ride). All the way there I had many many reasons to say WTF to the town who was already in a rescue operation, along with fish and game.
But everyone here is right, without common sense and/or professional training, the general public's perspective of risk is short, therefore they are going to form a negative impression of the fire department should you choose to say it's just not worth it and leave, then again once you do leave...they are now going to become "the make shift rescuers" and we will certainly be called back for a human life rescue.
So in our case, after arriving, sizing up the situation, observing the lack of crowd control on a big lake, and seeing the public's desire (one civilian had already been rescued by the local FD) we risk verse gained the entire incident, the guys put together a plan to attempt a non-entry rigging rescue. This on the "cover" was for public PR, deep down I thought the moose would most likely be overcome before we were ever successful, but in the end the rigging we used along with the moose's will to live, he was able to pop back up onto solid ice.
No doubt in my mind, if we left we would be back for a human through the ice. Think about the whale rescues and hundreds of humanitarians who will do dangerous things to rescue Free Willy.
And John is right, many ice rescues are for dog lovers trying to save fido before the FD is ever called, so we have trained and pre-planned dog through the ice rescue scenarios, with the use of a dog catchers pole and snare loop. Under the throw, row, go modes of tactics, we will most often snare fido and pull him up onto the ice before any rescuer gets into the freezing water.
TCSS
FETC
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Permalink Reply by Doug on
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many ice rescues are for dog lovers trying to save fido before the FD is ever called
Or waist deep mud...
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Permalink Reply by Ken Smith on
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We've always been taught to risk a life to save a life, a human life, and PR for your fire department definitely isnt worth the life of an animal. As we all no, irregardless of our capabilities and skills as firefighters and irregardless of how safe we may be during these rescue attempts "accidents" can happen. No firefighters life is worth the risk. No ones. Public education is also a must like many other fire department education programs. The public needs to know, even though your always going to have that one person, that its unacceptible to risk their life to save a pet, just like it is unacceptible for that same person to go back into a burning house once they've escaped to save a pet, belongings etc... Education, education, education. Safety, safety, safety.
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I am not saying risk your life in an "unsafe way to save a pet" heck, driving to the station for start of shift is more dangerous than some incidents we mitigate. Driving to the scene, hot is far more dangerous than operating on the ice professionally. Operating on the ice, with sound training, skills, policies and professional equipment greatly reduces the liability.
Seeing this has started some discussion, has any fire rescue member operating professionally, been killed trying to rescue a pet through the ice? Now I can think of water rescue by FD's that were VERY UNPROFESSIONAL, and had deaths. Does anyone else?
So using your own words about education Ken, I totally agree, we must educate the public to NOT go out onto the ice to rescue your dog..... and oh by the way, we are NOT going to respond either.... too dangerous. But as you said, we are still going to have that "one person" and we all know that one, in reality is thousands.
So why not resolve the issue in a safe manner and reduce the "one person" theory, but resolve it safely.
Isn't that prevention itself, preventing the dog owner from becoming the next victim. Alot of these are children... who are definately attempting to save their dog.
To me thats like leaving a loaded handgun for a toddler to play with...
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Permalink Reply by ashfire on
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I have wondered why some fire services don't look into getting a animal pole like animal control units use. I think there can be other uses for them. I have a old vehicle rescue manual that shows how to make one using aluminum pipe and rope if you have to control a animal at a accident secne before animal control can get there.
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Been there and have already done that ashfire.
It works great, firefighters don ice rescue dry suits, are tethered to the operations shore crew, we use an ocean id open bottom inflatable boat or the rescue alive sled with pontoons to slide out over the ice for added safety, disperses the rescuers weight and adds backup boyancey if the ice fails beneath. If the ice holds the rescuers, we then use the snare pole to give fido a little noose tug. Seen it work from 8-10' away. Rarely ever had to get into the water like the photo above. As I was mentioning before, it is highly controlled, and less dangerous than just going out and trying to grab onto an animal in the fight to live mode.
We have the same designed pole (smaller version) to snare a human arm or leg before committing to the open water as well.
It is called pre-planning the scenario and the public who pay our salary love the front page feel good story with positive results.
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Permalink Reply by Gerald M. Dworkin on
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According to the Associated Press, during an attempt to rescue a German shepherd from the storm-swollen Los Angeles river on January 22, the firefighter who rescued the dog was hospitalized after being bitten by the dog. Joe St. Georges, a 25-year department veteran, suffered severe hand and arm injuries, but was in good condition, at County USC Medical Center, said Los Angeles Fire Captain Steve Ruda. "He has significant injuries, bites and punctures, to his hand and arm and is being seen by a specialist," Ruda said.
Based on our research of ice rescue incidents and fatalities during the years 2006 & 2007, approximately 85% of the incidents were initiated as a result of humans venturing out onto the ice to rescue a domestic animal. The purpose of this article is three-fold. First, we need to educate the public about the need to control their pets and to prevent them from going out onto the ice because no ice should ever be considered as being "safe ice". Second, we need to also educate the public to call 911, rather than to make an attempt to rescue their pets that have fallen through the ice. And, third, First Responder agencies and their personnel need to be trained and equipped to properly, effectively, and safely respond to domestic animal rescues in the water, and on and through the ice.
In February 2004, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) published NFPA 1670: Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents. The purpose of this standard is to minimize threats to rescuers while conducting operations at technical SAR incidents. This standard deals specifically with identifying and establishing levels of functional capability for conducting technical rescue operations safely and effectively. Although these standards were designed for all types of Technical Rescue operations, they also address water and ice rescue operations.
These standards are intended to assist the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to:
1. Assess the technical rescue hazard within their specific response area;
2. Identify the level of operational capability needed; and
3. Establish operational criteria.
As a responder to technical rescue incidents, the AHJ needs to determine the level of response the authority is compelled to provide. The AHJ must then plan for it, train for it, and allocate the necessary resources to manage the appropriate response at that level.
In order to meet the organization's identified level of operational capability, in addition to developing SOPs and providing necessary training for its personnel, the AHJ must ensure that equipment commensurate with the respective operational capabilities for operations at technical SAR incidents and training exercises is provided.
Many First Responder organizations have established policies that prohibit their personnel from responding to domestic animal rescues due to the inherent risk and danger posed to their personnel. However, it must be realized that if trained professional rescue personnel don't respond, then the public will do so at great risk to themselves. And, in doing so, the incident can escalate from an animal at risk of drowning to a human victim or multiple victim incident at risk of drowning.
In order for First Response agencies to safely and effectively respond to any type of cold water and/or ice rescue incident, the First Responders must be appropriately trained for this type of incident, and they must have the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This should include an appropriately designed Ice Rescue Suit with integrated gloves, rigid sole boots, hood, and harness system. Other PPE equipment could include a helmet, cleats, and ice awls. In addition, the rescue personnel must be tethered to shore at all times with line that is specifically designed for use in water and/or on ice.
In addition to this equipment, any rescue personnel venturing onto the ice or into the water to rescue an animal should also be equipped with an animal control pole. The purpose of the pole is to allow the rescuer to safely snare the animal and to restrain the animal while keeping the animal at a safe distance away from the rescuer and/or his/her equipment.
The focus of any water or ice rescue training program designed for First Responders should be to prepare rescue personnel to safely and effectively respond to incidents in, on or around the water or on and through the ice. Training in personal safety and survival skills should be paramount. Rescue skills should include the use of a variety of equipment, procedures, and techniques and should include rescue protocols for active, as well as passive victims; the management of suspected spinal injuries; and domestic animal rescue.
Public Safety and Rescue agencies need to pre-plan ice and water rescue incidents, and personnel need to be appropriately trained to safely and effectively respond to incidents in the water as well as on and through the ice. Collaborative discussions and pre-planning should also be conducted with the community animal control officers. Humane Society representation can also be brought into the loop. Besides the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment needed for water and ice rescue incidents, First Responder agencies should also obtain animal control poles to prevent the animal from compromising the equipment or safety of the rescue personnel.
For more information on this subject, contact Lifesaving Resources at 603.827.4139 or access their website at www.lifesaving.com.
About Lifesaving Resources
Lifesaving Resources Inc. (lifesaving.com) is dedicated to drowning and aquatic injury prevention and emergency management. The company operates a state-of-the-art Water and Ice Rescue Training Center in historic Harrisville, New Hampshire. Lifesaving Resources develops Aquatics Safety, Lifeguarding, Water Rescue, Swiftwater Rescue, and Ice Rescue training programs and conducts this training throughout North America for the Public Safety and Rescue, as well as the Lifeguard and Aquatic Recreation Sectors.
Lifesaving Resources 2010 Training Schedule:
Ice Rescue Technician Courses
• January 23 (Harrisville, New Hampshire)
• February 06 (Harrisville, New Hampshire)
• March 06 (Harrisville, New Hampshire)
Ice Rescue Train-the-Trainer Academy
• February 18 - 21 (Hancock, New Hampshire)
Water Rescue Technician Courses
• April 17 (Harrisville, New Hampshire)
• October 15 (Bartlett, New Hampshire)
Swiftwater Rescue Technician Course
• April 17 - 18 (Harrisville, New Hampshire)
Water Rescue Train-the-Trainer Academy
• May 20 - 23 (Keene, New Hampshire)
Standard of Care for the Prevention, Recognition, and Management of Drowning & Aquatic Injuries
• February 12 (San Diego, California)
• April 25 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Standard of Care for Lifeguard Operations
• March 18 (Westport, Connecticut)
• October 13 (White Plains, New York)
Prevention & Preparedness for Open Water Emergencies
• April 27 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
For information on any of these programs, or to sponsor or host a program in your area, contact Lifesaving Resources or access their website at www.lifesaving.com.
Gerald M. Dworkin
Consultant, Aquatics Safety and Water Rescue
Lifesaving Resources Inc.
http://www.lifesaving.com
Harrisville, NH
603/827-4139
603.584.1182
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Permalink Reply by Firefighter NetCast on
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Thank you, Mr. Dworkin, for your comprehensive and informative reply.
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Permalink Reply by Oldman on
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It's a no win situation. An animal rescue being criticized for using resources, and then one where nobody helps.
http://www.khou.com/news/Cat-Stuck-on-Power-Pole-No-One-Can-Help-82...
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Permalink Reply by CHIEF NORMAN on
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FETC,
I to understand what your saying and my guys are trained for animal rescue. We had a confined space rescue on a cow...And just like a dog, that may be a member of someones family, we had someones money down a well...And just as any other type of rescue if you dont have a solution then you cant fix the problem and the solution is being well prepared and well trained for any type of rescue human or animal. It not only makes us better professionals at what we do, but when the call comes out for a man, woman or child in the same situation then we have a better understanding on what needs to be done to succeed. Make since? Never the less we saved the cow which has a chain reaction...The poor farmer can afford to put bread on his table for another week the well company was able to continue on and start to put up there rig to drill for oil and as we know what kind of impact that has on our economy right now...The moral of my story is: we need to do our job and do it well and it should make no difference man or beast a rescue is a rescue. And if we dont do it then someone else will...
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