Vol. 12, No. 7, July 2016 |
 Printer-Friendly PDF Version |
Cow in Sumter County Rescued with SART Equipment by Fire and EMS Officials
On June 22, Sumter County Fire & EMS Technical Rescue responded to a citizen assist in reference to a large cow stuck in the mud in a field at the intersection of CR470 and CR419.
Upon arrival, crews found a cow that had become stranded in the mud at the edge of a watering pond.
The animal was struggling to breathe and was unable to stand due to the slippery mud and total exhaustion.
Sumter County’s Engine 21 recognized the need for the Special Operations Team to be activated. and moved to deploy the State-issued “Large Animal Rescue Equipment apparatus.”
Upon arrival of the Special Operations Team with the large animal rescue equipment, a system was constructed and the cow was pulled from the mud without injury.
John Haven, Director of the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, said that these rescuers “attended the UF/FL SART two-day operations level animal technical rescue course a year ago,” further noting that “SART positioned an available state animal technical rescue cache with them.”
A bystander has posted a complete video on YouTube, available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acvmJyuV9Go.
According to Haven, “They put the equipment to good use in a rescue this week.”
The Florida State Animal Response Coalition also commented, ”Our partners in all things animal, Florida S.A.R.T., put together caches of large animal rescue equipment for each region and train fire fighters in technical large animal rescue and retrain as required. So proud of our association with this our amazing Florida S.A.R.T. partners! They make rescues like this possible!”
Story and Pics courtesy of Battalion Chief Rick Pitts and Battalion Chief Damon Allen.
Commissioner Putnam Tours Department's Zika Testing Lab
In May, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam toured the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, which has recently been equipped to test mosquitoes for the Zika virus.
The laboratory, located in Kissimmee, can now test for the virus in the vector mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, and it has tested samples from four counties to date. All results were negative.
The laboratory routinely tests for diseases that affect both animals and humans, such as Avian Influenza, Tuberculosis and West Nile Virus. In response to the Zika public health crisis in Florida, Commissioner Putnam had the laboratory updated to be able to test mosquito samples.
“With the height of mosquito season fast approaching, and the number of travel-related cases of Zika in Florida leading the nation, it is paramount that we use every tool available to protect Floridians and visitors,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “We will continue to support the Florida Department of Health and local mosquito control programs in this collaborative effort.”
While the Florida Department of Health is the lead agency in this public health crisis, FDACS has continued to support the efforts.
For More Information http://www.freshfromflorida.com/News-Events/Press-Releases/2016-Press-Releases/Commissioner-Adam-H.-Putnam-Tours-Department-s-Zika-Testing-Laboratory
Holmes County Emergency Management Hosts Emergency Preparedness Day
On May 20th, the Holmes County Emergency Management agency hosted their annual Emergency Preparedness Day.
The Emergency Management Director asked local first responders in the area if they can set up a booth and pass out educational information to the public. Some of the agencies brought emergency response equipment to display.
This year two of the Holmes County Schools brought their 5th grade classes to view these exhibits.
Submitted by James Picher
Agriculture Consumer Protection Inspector
Division of Animal Industry
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services