Emergency Preparedness

We all should be performing safety checks whenever we are around the barn or other places our animals stay.  However, as fall settles in and winter approaches, this routine task becomes particularly important.  Check your barn and animal areas for physical safety hazards such as blocked aisles and doors and sharp surfaces such as hooks and racks.  Inspect your electrical systems, both permanent and temporary.  Barns are not temperature controlled environments and even a professionally installed electrical system can be compromised over time by exposure to damp conditions and temperature fluctuations.

Double check your equipment, particularly extension cords, temporary heaters, and heat lamps. They are working overtime in this weather. Feel the cords with a bare hand to see if they are excessively warm. Check that they are stable and secure so that they cannot be upset by an animal or even a strong breeze.

Keep in mind that just because an extension cord is working doesn't mean it is safe.  The material in the cords will break down in a barn environment.  Think about better alternatives to extension cords.  It’s a lot cheaper to pay an electrician to install an appropriate outlet than to bury your animals or a loved one, or even rebuild a barn.  If you find a problem, find an alternative.  Remember, your animals are better off cold than dead.

Have a plan. Know your escape paths and make sure they are unobstructed. Tragedies happen in an instant and all the wishing in the world won't change things after the fact. Even though it is cold, put on a jacket and walk out to the barn, hutch, pen, kennel, or coop and check for safety issues.

If you have a farm or other large animal facility, consider inviting your local fire department out for a visit.  Knowing your unique facility can make a world of difference for them should an emergency arise.  Among other things, they would welcome information on access to your facility, the location of electrical panels and generator shut-off switches, fuel storage both above and below ground, and the location of volatile materials such as hay, straw, and bedding.  They would also like information on any on-sight water such as a pool, pond, or lake.  In addition, understanding the escape routes within your facility and where to take or push animals to safety and information on human occupants that may be around.  During these visits you can also share contact information and any special instructions such as no sirens within 500 feet of the barn.

It takes a small amount of time to perform routine safety checks.  Do it soon.  We all want to see those happy faces in the morning!