The Business of Practice: Preventing Barn Fires 

In this episode, Rebecca Gimenez Husted, PhD, discussed how equine veterinarians can help their clients prevent barn fires by assessing their stables for vulnerabilities. She shared the top causes of barn fires, which include inadequate or aged electrical systems and storage of flammable materials. 

Husted emphasized the importance of building a relationship with your local fire department so they can assess your property for hazards and determine how they can best access it in the event of a fire. Additional discussion centered around the importance of prevention, having an evacuation plan, and increasing awareness.  

For more information on preventing barn fires, Husted recommended two recent videos she made for the Friesian Horse Society and the Hooved Animal Humane Society. 

About Dr. Rebecca Gimenez Husted 

Rebecca Gimenez Husted, PhD, published the first textbook on Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue with Tomas and Kimberly May through Wiley-Blackwell in 2008. She is a decorated combat veteran and retired U.S. Army Signal Officer. She has a bachelor’s in biology from Wofford College and a PhD in Animal Physiology from Clemson University. She provides training in Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAERTM) techniques across the U.S. and internationally. She has published numerous critiques, techniques, and journal articles on various technical subjects in large animal disaster and emergency rescue, horse barn fires, and heavy rescue of large animals. She contributes to equine welfare committees and other organizations defining technical competencies for large animal rescue around the world. 

Related Reading

• Design Considerations for Equine Veterinary Practices
• Equine and Livestock Evacuation Kit Essentials
• Wildfire Smoke Guidelines for Horses

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