Using principles from emergency management to improve emergency response plans for research animals

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Welfare Science
• Emergency Management

Background:

• Regulatory agencies mandate updated emergency response plans for institutions conducting animal research.
• Effective emergency planning is a critical, yet challenging, aspect of animal care and use programs.
• Developing comprehensive plans ensures the safety and welfare of research animals during emergencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide foundational information on best practices for emergency response plan development.
• To guide institutions in creating effective emergency management strategies for animal research facilities.
• To simplify the process of planning for diverse emergency scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Drawing upon established principles from the field of emergency management.
• Applying a common-sense approach to facility-specific emergency planning.
• Focusing on best practices for creating actionable emergency response plans.

Main Results:

• Institutions can develop effective emergency response plans by utilizing basic emergency management principles.
• A structured approach simplifies the creation of comprehensive emergency plans.
• Best practices provide a clear framework for managing emergencies in animal research settings.

Conclusions:

• Implementing best practices in emergency management is essential for regulated research institutions.
• A common-sense, principle-based approach facilitates the development of effective animal research emergency plans.
• Robust emergency response planning is integral to maintaining high standards in animal care and use programs.