German firefighters train large animal rescue with horse dummy

Firefighters in North and East Hesse, Germany, recently trained in Bad Hersfeld to rescue large animals like cattle, horses, and pigs from perilous situations. The exercise utilized a horse dummy to simulate emergencies such as fires, falls into streams, or accidents on slopes.

"Many fire departments have little experience with this topic," stated Björn Preuß von Brincken, a district fire chief. He stressed that such drills are crucial for enabling emergency personnel to rescue larger animals effectively and humanely from acute distress.

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Many fire departments have little experience with this topic.

The training focused on teamwork, delicate handling, and maintaining composure. Participants practiced using specialized equipment, safety gear, and lifting harnesses. Dutch veterinarian and rescue expert Ronald Rongen, who led the seminar, highlighted that handling livestock with minimal stress is vital for the safety of both humans and animals in daily work and emergency responses.

The drill brought together firefighters, emergency responders, and veterinarians from the Hersfeld-Rotenburg, Fulda, Schwalm-Eder, and Vogelsberg districts. The event took place at the Hessian Center for Agriculture (LWZ) Eichhof.

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The most stress-free handling of farm animals is crucial for the safety of humans and animals in everyday work and also in emergency situations.