- First-Aid  & Why it is So Important
- How to Handle Emergency Situations
- Priorities of Emergency Care
- Situations Requiring Immediate Vet Care
- Restraint, Handling & Control
- Rescue Breathing
- CPR-Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
- How to Assess Vitals
- Know the Normal Vitals For Your Horse
- Recording Vitals & Why Its So Important
- Whole Body Wellness Assessment
- Whole Body Injury Assessment
- Acupressure points for Colic
- Choking Management
- Bleeding Protocols
- Fractures and Limb Injuries
- First-Aid/How to Dress Wounds
- Poisonous Substances
- Insect Bites and Stings
- Snakebites-Poisonous/Non Poisonous
- Heatstroke/Burns
- Frost Nip/ Frostbite
- Seizures/Convulsions 
- Hoof Care & Why It Is So Important
- Keeping Health Records Up to Date
- Administering Medications
- Learn To Make Your Own First-Aid Healing Salves
- Care of Senior Horses
- How to Detect Dental Problems
- Holiday Dangers & How to Prevent Them
- Nutritional Management
- Disaster Preparedness for Horses & Livestock
- Create an Emergency Plan
- Emergency Preparedness Checklist
- Evaluate Disaster Risks in Your Area
- Hunt for Home & Property Disasters
-Your Community Disaster Plan
- Disaster Kit for Each Horse 
- Horse First Aid Kits & How to Prepare One  
- Why Horse Photo ID's Are So Important
- ID Tags & Microchips
- Neighbor Buddy System
- Where to Go With Your Animals in a Disaster            
- Identify Several Possible Evacuation Locations
- What You Need to Know and Do to Evacuate
- How to Prevent & Practice Barn Fire Safety
- Helping Others with Their Animals
- Comforting Your Horses & Livestock During a Disaster
- Importance of Second Contact Person Outside of State 
- Know Your Vet's Emergency/Disaster Plans
- What To Do When You Cannot Get To Your Vet
- What To Do Before Your Vet Arrives

_____________________________________________________________________

*Horse First-Aid is not intended to replace proper veterinarian care and treatment for any situation. Responsible advice and treatment of veterinary care should always be included in the care of your animal companions.
______________________________________________________________________

Every horse and livestock owner should have the knowledge and skills to take care of situations on their own. As we all know getting your vet out or getting your horse to a equine vet hospital is not always easy to do. With the shortage of equine veterinarians it is vital that we know how to handle emergency situations until we can get a vet to our location or our horse to a equine vet hospital. 

Knowing what is normal for your horse is the most important thing you can do for your horse. You will know immediately when something is just not right and can take action before things become critical. 

Home care will stay you BIG BUCKS on horse care costs. Something we all can use in these times.

Knowing how to prevent disasters on your property and how to handle them can mean life or death for your animals. Knowing barn safety management is vital. 80% of all livestock deaths are from barn fires.  
_______________________________________________________________________ 
Testimonials

"I recommend this class to everyone who has dedicated themselves to the well being of the animals in their lives. Pet owners, professional trainers, pet sitters, and veterinary technicians will benefit from taking this class because it is what YOU do in those first moments of an emergency that can determine the outcome. Diane is an excellent trainer for this class because she is thorough and answers all of your questions without judgment. It's very important to know what steps need to be taken during an emergency as there may not be an emergency service close by. The steps you take could save a life!"

"Diane is someone that you can walk into a room and instantly feel at ease with. I think animals and humans alike can sense the peace she feels and instantly feel at ease. Her compassion for animals is very deep, and it is evident that she infuses the work she does with her caring, peaceful spirit. I would recommend Diane to everyone interested in animal communication and healing arts"....
"Laura Clough, owner of Buddy & Friends Pet Sitting in Boulder, CO"
______________________________________________________________________

"Looking to enhance my credentials as I begin a new career in pet care, I came across the Pet Tech Pet First Aid/CPR certification course taught by Diane Ellis.  I knew that there were other Pet First Aid courses out there, but I was very impressed by the list of topics covered in the Pet Tech course, as explained on Diane's website.  I also felt that a full day of study was an appropriate amount of time to cover everything mentioned.  Little did I know how quickly the time would pass that day. 

Diane is an amazing instructor.  She is pleasant and funny and very knowledgeable.  She covered the topic matter in an organized fashion with plenty of time for questions and review.  I  believe that the information I learned from Diane will prove invaluable to me as a pet owner and animal care provider.

In addition to the knowledge I gained, however, I was thrilled to have met another person who is as compassionate and enthusiastic about animal welfare as I am.  I highly recommend this course and feel confident that any course taught by Diane Ellis will enrich your life in more ways than one". 
"Tracey Derheim, owner of Curious Critters Pet Services" in Longmont, CO
________________________________________________________________________
First-Aid Tips:                            
                                                   
                                                Wound Management

                       
                      

                    
It is critical that wounds be kept clean and banadages changed every few days to prevent the forming of proud flesh which can grow a thick layer over wounds and cause scarring and if severe can restrict a horses movement.                                 
                                                     
                            
                                                 Looper Getting Acupressure

_____________________________________________________
Class Fee's

$124.95 - Horse First-Aid/Horse Care/Disaster Preparedness Certification
9 hour class
Certification includes book: Dr. Kellon's Guide to First Aid For Horses

Class includes lots of hands-on skills practice and demos.

This class is perfect for horse owners and horse professionals. Knowing how to care for, protect and provide for horses in any situation is vital to their welfare.

Everyone is responsible for their own lunch. 

**Pre-registration and class fee are required 7 days (1 week) prior to scheduled class date.   
______________________________________________________
Class Schedule / Locations

To set up a class or attend a scheduled class, please call: 
(C) 714-336-0065  
(B) 970-372-0543  
Email: leadwithyourheart@msn.com

Classes can be held at your location. You must provide a calm, people friendly horse and a place where the class can be held with an area for a powerpoint presentation.  

If you do not find a class that fits your schedule we can arrange a time and date that works for you.

Locations: Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Arizona.

I also travel outside of Colorado. These classes will require a sponsor for the location, use of a calm, people friendly horse, a place where the class can be held with an area for a powerpoint presentation and a minimum of 10 people.


September 2009
Sunday, September 6th - Horse First-Aid/Care 9 Hour Class
Time: 9am to 6pm
Location: 1311 Yew Court, Fort Collins, CO 80524

October 2009
Sunday, October 18th - Horse First-Aid/Care 9 Hour Class
Time: 9am to 6pm
Location: 1311 Yew Court, Fort Colins, CO 80524
Sunday, October 25th - Horse First-Aid/Care 9 Hour Class
Time: 9am to 6pm
Location: 1311 Yew Court, Fort Collins, CO 80524 


New Class Schedule coming soon...
______________________________________________________
Barn Fires

American Association of Equine Practitioners
"Strageties to Prevent and Respond to Barn Fires"

At the 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 6-10 in San Diego, Calif., Rebecca Gimenez, PhD, noted that barn fires are the No. 1 local emergency that affects everyone from horse owners to veterinarians, and property owners to the horses themselves. Barn fires kill more horses annually than any other type of nonmedical emergency. Of 11,500 agricultural storage facility fires per year, 88% are barns or stables with animals, resulting in about $250 million in property losses annually. In 87 horse-barn fire incidents reported in 2006 and 2007, 461 horses died and an unknown number were injured.

Gimenez explained that for a fire to start there needs to be an ignition source, oxygen, and fuel. She emphasized that a fire doubles in size every minute, so in 10 minutes it might be 1,024-4,680 times the original size!

As heat rises into the barn rafters, the ceiling will superheat if the structure lacks ventilation for escape of heat. Hay and other combustibles (such as the rafters) often located high in the barn are likely to ignite.

Common barn construction materials of wood increase the hazard of unstoppable fires. Ideally, a barn is constructed of masonry or cinder blocks, with metal, or tile roofing, all electrical lines are sheathed in conduit, flooring is sand or other noncombustible materials, and all wood surfaces are painted with flame-retardant paint. Areas of the barn should be compartmentalized to prevent or delay spread of the fire. Post "No Smoking" signs around the barn and enforce the rule.

Mitigation should include a careful look at the "anatomy" of a horse facility, asking the following questions:

What is the evacuation plan for every horse and person from the facility?
Is the evacuation plan practiced?
What combustibles (forage, shavings, stall planks, wood roofs, and walls) are present?
Are alcohol, cleaning products, oils (clipper grease, etc) in steel boxes?
Do stall doors face to the outside wall for a fast exit, or is the only egress along the inside barn aisle from an interior-facing stall door?
Are doors locked at the ends of the barn? Are stalls locked?
Do obstacles block egress out of the barn?
Is there a sprinkler system?
Are there sufficient stations of materials for fighting or suppressing fires?
Is there a chainsaw and/or an axe to open escape routes on outside walls?
Gimenez notes that it takes 30-60 seconds to halter and lead a horse to an exit. It isn't appropriate to open the stall door for the horse to escape because often they return to the barn or they might run into someone or impede emergency vehicles. Most horse fatalities are due to smoke inhalation; as a horse panics, rises in heart and respiratory rates increase inhalation of toxic fumes.

Know the turnover rate of clients at a facility so all newcomers are versed in fire evacuation procedures. Firefighters recommend monthly evacuation practices. This improves muscle memory and automatic responses, while uncovering potential, but correctable, problems before encountering a real crisis.

Flame and heat detectors with electronic eyes can signal the presence of heat or flame as it is rising, and carbon monoxide detectors are valuable, too. Cheap smoke detectors aren't as useful because they are triggered by air particulates and dust to give false alerts. Tags on fire extinguishers should be checked and contents updated at the local fire department as necessary. An extinguisher should be 10-20 pounds, minimal. Personnel should be trained in extinguisher use, as there is no time for a learning curve when a fire is doubling in size every minute. Fire hoses should have more than 100 psi of pressure, and it is helpful to have an installed sprinkler system for immediate suppression. Water suppression is considered a last resort--especially in rural areas--since it takes three to five minutes for fire fighters to arrive, and by then there might be no saving the barn. Regardless, it is good to have an established relationship with the local fire department. When you implement mitigation strategies, insurance costs go down and safety improves substantially, along with the potential to save lives
_____________________________________________________________________
Recommended Websites:

The United Animal Nations
http://www.uan.org/

The Humane Society of the United States
http://www.hsus.org/ 

Paw Pages - of Northern Colorado
http://www.coloradopawpages.com/index
Your pet products and services "furectory" 
You can get a free download on their website
A great new pet publication that is focused on helping all animals and the people who
care for them in northern colorado.
                **Look for Lead With Your Heart in their September 2009 issue**