Certification Option for Veterinarians Responding to Emergency Situations

December 1, 2010 — 

Veterinarians and vet technicians have been called on in emergency situations in increasing numbers in the past few years.

Hundreds of them were called to assist in the Gulf region during Hurricane Katrina. This summer, during the huge oil spills in the Gulf, more were called on to rescue thousands of wild creatures from the oil spill.

Emergency response teams reacted with speed and competency, but the need is still great, and even more experienced veterinarians and vet techs need to be trained to help in natural disaster situations.

The Medical Reserve Corps is a community-based network of volunteers dedicated to public health and emergency response. They are seeking vet techs and other professionals in the field of veterinary medicine to volunteer for this crucial work. Veterinary professionals and technicians are asked to provide triage care, general veterinary care, evaluation and decontamination services.

Purdue University offers a veterinary homeland security certificate program for veterinary professionals who want to help in animal health emergencies. This graduate-level distance-learning program has been granted national certification by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. To earn certification, participants must complete nine courses, including swine disease, rabies, anthrax and plague. Completion of this program could open doors to several professional opportunities because of its many-faceted nature.

For more information, visit www.biosecuritycenter.org/article.php?vetHomelandProgram.

Source: Foster's Daily Democrat
November 14, 2010