Emergency Response
Written protocols should be in place and reviewed annually with your veterinarian and employees to ensure that certain procedures are carried out appropriately.
Goals:
To identify when an emergency situation may be likely, ensure quick and effective responses to an emergency, and minimize the impact of an emergency wherever possible
How to assess:
Review the emergency action/response protocol to confirm that the following information is included and that appropriate criteria are being met:
Dairy Well
- Emergency contact information for the farm owner, manager, VOR, and local fire department is posted prominently
- Fire extinguishers are available and accessible
- Animals must have permanent IDs
- Signed by VOR
A template is provided as a guideline; farms may write their own as long as minimum content is met.
National Dairy FARM Program
- Contact information for emergency services and contacts (including the owner, vet, milk handler, equipment dealers, and power company), and the site address must be posted in a prominently in languages understood by the employees
- Each animal must be permanently identified
- Permanent, easily accessible drug treatment records must be maintained
Validus
- A written plan for emergencies, facilities repair, and maintenance must exist
- A written emergency contact sheet must be posted and readily accessible by employees including:
- Key farm contact names
- Local emergency personnel
- Herd veterinarian
- Farm location and directions
- Farm must have an emergency action plan that employees are trained on
- Farm must have a permanent animal identification plan in place