On March 3, 2008 the Federal Emergency Management Agency/US Department of Homeland Security (FEMA/DHS) approved the curriculum for the Basic Animal Rescue Training (BART) Small Animal Basic Life Support course. Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management approved the course for delivery in Minnesota in 2007 and assisted the Basic Animal Rescue Training organization with the FEMA course approval application process. FEMA approval makes the BART class a national standard course for training first responders in safe pet handling and rescue on the scene of emergencies. FEMA approval also makes BART and departments we train eligible for federal funding to help cover the costs of holding classes.
Why did BART pursue FEMA approval? BART has received training requests from over 30 states and is pursuing national expansion. The American Veterinary Medical Foundation has granted BART $50,000 in matching funds to aid our expansion to 5 new states. As an almost completely volunteer organization, BART realizes our Minnesota trainers cannot personally train all the first responders in the nation. We needed a way to standardize our course and FEMA provided the route. BART was able to require that our course can only be taught in other states when the State Veterinary Medical Association and Board of Veterinary Medicine approve, and that the trainers have to be in the veterinary profession and certified by BART to teach our class. This will ensure that the course continues to meet our high standards, no matter where it is taught. BART plans to travel to other states to hold Train the Trainer classes and teach veterinary volunteers how to deliver the BART courses.
BART Curriculum Gains National Approval
Published April 11, 2008 3:23 am · Announcements, General
On March 3, 2008 the Federal Emergency Management Agency/US Department of Homeland Security (FEMA/DHS) approved the curriculum for the Basic Animal Rescue Training (BART) Small Animal Basic Life Support course. Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management approved the course for delivery in Minnesota in 2007 and assisted the Basic Animal Rescue Training organization with the FEMA course approval application process. FEMA approval makes the BART class a national standard course for training first responders in safe pet handling and rescue on the scene of emergencies. FEMA approval also makes BART and departments we train eligible for federal funding to help cover the costs of holding classes.
Why did BART pursue FEMA approval? BART has received training requests from over 30 states and is pursuing national expansion. The American Veterinary Medical Foundation has granted BART $50,000 in matching funds to aid our expansion to 5 new states. As an almost completely volunteer organization, BART realizes our Minnesota trainers cannot personally train all the first responders in the nation. We needed a way to standardize our course and FEMA provided the route. BART was able to require that our course can only be taught in other states when the State Veterinary Medical Association and Board of Veterinary Medicine approve, and that the trainers have to be in the veterinary profession and certified by BART to teach our class. This will ensure that the course continues to meet our high standards, no matter where it is taught. BART plans to travel to other states to hold Train the Trainer classes and teach veterinary volunteers how to deliver the BART courses.
For the full story on FEMA approval, see the March 2008 Special Edition of BART’s newsletter The Siren.
Read more about FEMA Funding here.
For more information and an application for bringing BART to your state, click here.