Rescue 3 Pacific ARTech course launched at Massey University

February 13, 2011

Rescue 3 Pacific launched it's inaugural Animal Rescue Technician I course this month. The students were all from the newly formed Massey University Veterinary Emergency Response Team (VERT).

VERT is a specialist veterinary disaster response team, able to conduct technical rescues, as well as perform a wide suite of veterinary disaster medicine. The six person team is comprised of veterinary surgeons, veterinary technologists and nurses, specialising in in small and large animal practice. The newly acquired skills will assist in developing their capacity to respond to major incidents within New Zealand as part of proposed guidelines (being set by the National Animal Welfare Emergency Management Group).  VERT members are also being developed as potential Instructors/Assistant Instructors for the new programme and could also be deployed internationally for training and response assignments.

The new Animal Rescue Technician (ARTech) programme was developed by Rescue 3 Pacific Director and Chief Instructor Trainer, Steve Glassey. Steve was the founder of the Wellington SPCA Animal Rescue Unit which has remained until now, the only technical animal rescue team in New Zealand. The 5 day intense programme includes:

• Safety management
• Response legislation
• Animal emergency management planning
• Technical rescue standards
• Knots
• Equipment knowledge and maintenance
• Decontamination
• Aircraft safety
• Field euthanasia
• Chemical capture
• Anchors
• Rappelling
• Ascending
• Knot passing
• Stretcher rigging (animal harness)
• Belaying
• Lowering/hauling systems
• Tree rescue
• Ladder operations
• Veterinary triage
• And includes a number of exercises to consolidate the skills.
  

The programme is endorsed and accredited by Rescue 3 International, who since 1979 have delivered certified training in swiftwater and rope rescue to over 150,000 people.

The course also included a presentation by Dr. Ian Dacre, Director of Disaster Response (Asia/Pacific Region) for the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) on the new Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS) and Disaster Assessment Needs Analysis (DANA). Rescue 3 Pacific Instructors Steve Glassey and Todd Balogh instructed the course along with Blair Hillyard of the Wellington SPCA Animal Rescue Unit.

"The key difference with this course, is that it is instructed by animal rescue experts. Instructors need to have significant amount of real life animal rescues as well as animal care or veterinary certifications. These new Animal Rescue Technicians are also potentially part of assisting us deliver this programme world wide. There has been considerable interest in this programme from overseas, given the lessons learned following Hurricane Katrina where people failed to evacuate because their pets were not allowed in shelters - also leaving thousands of pets abandoned and in need of rescuing. This course helps ensure capacity is available to support emergency services and civil defence if required, a capacity that is next to non existent in New Zealand".

VERT is still being developed and is seeking financial supporters and sponsors to further develop their capabilities. If you are interested in providing financial support to VERT, please contact Hayley Squance (VERT Manager).

If you are interested in the new ARTech certification programme, please contact Steve Glassey.

Back to news items