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What to do in the event of a livestock trailer rollover

Livestock trailer rollovers happen and when they do, safety experts say emergency response is required.

Minnesota Pork Board education director Jill Resler has this advice for first responders.

“If you’re the first one on the scene of an accident, the key thing is to move slowly and try to make sure the livestock are off the road.  One of the biggest challenges when there is a livestock rollover is that the livestock ends up being on the road.”

Additional injuries to humans and animals can occur as vehicles pass by.

Another key she says is to not attempt turning a trailer upright with livestock still on it.

Resler tells Brownfield Minnesota has seven livestock emergency response trailers spread across the state.

“A really key component of the success of those trailers is having these workshops that allow transporters, emergency responders, sheriffs…anybody who might be on the scene of a rollover, know how to most effectively and efficiently respond.  Keeping in mind the safety of both the animals and the public as they do so.”

A course will be held October 20^th in Marshall and the next day in Austin. Resler reminds anyone coming on the scene of an accident to first call 911.