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April 1, 2012 - Tragic Incident at Florida Equine Rehabilitation Center
On the morning of February 10th, an unexpected and deadly event occurred at Kesmarc Florida's equine rehabilitation center near Ocala. A hyperbaric chamber explosion led to the tragic loss of life, clming both a horse and the woman operating it.
The fatal incident was traced back to sparks from the horse's steel horseshoes igniting upon contact with metal surfaces within the chamber during treatment for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. The investigation by Marion County Sheriff's Office revealed that Erica Marshall, the operator who lost her life in this tragedy, had undergone trning on operating such chambers provided by Equine Hyperbarics, now known as both Equine Oxygen Therapy and Veterinary Hyperbaric Oxygen.
Eyewitness accounts suggested that the horse being treated had become agitated during its procedure. This agitation led to a displacement of a chamber lid at the rear due to increased movement caused by the horse's kicking activities. The removal of this protective barrier exposed the metal interior, which then came into contact with the sparks emitted from the horse’s steel shoes upon striking agnst the chamber surfaces. This combination resulted in an explosive situation.
This heartbreaking event underscores the critical importance of proper safety measures and trning when operating specialized medical equipment used for equine treatments. It serves as a stark reminder to all veterinary professionals handling hyperbaric chambers to adhere meticulously to guidelines and protocols, ensuring the welfare of both the animal patients and their caregivers alike.
Let this tragic incident serve as a catalyst for increased awareness on proper chamber management practices and safety precautions in the field of equine hyperbaric therapy. It is our collective responsibility to learn from such experiences and take necessary steps to prevent similar occurrences going forward.
April 1, 2012 - Fatal Equine Rehabilitation Center Incident at Kesmarc Florida
On February 10th, an unforeseen disaster struck Kesmarc Florida’s equine rehabilitation center near Ocala when a hyperbaric chamber explosion resulted in the loss of one horse's life and that of its operator.
The cause was traced to sparks from steel horseshoes worn by the agitated horse during treatment for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. According to the investigation conducted by Marion County Sheriff's Office, the incident involved Erica Marshall, the operator who tragically lost her life. She had been trned on hyperbaric chamber operations by Equine Hyperbarics, now also known as Equine Oxygen Therapy and Veterinary Hyperbaric Oxygen.
Witness accounts pointed out that as the horse became restless during its treatment procedure, it began kicking forcefully, which led to a rear lid of the chamber being displaced due to the increased movement. This action exposed the metal interior that was previously protected by a covering. The steel shoes of the agitated horse then struck agnst this metallic surface, creating sparks when coming into contact with it. These sparks ignited, resulting in the explosion.
This unfortunate event emphasizes the crucial significance of proper safety measures and trning when operating specialized medical equipment used for equine treatments. It serves as an alarming wake-up call to all veterinary professionals working with hyperbaric chambers, emphasizing the need for rigorous adherence to guidelines and protocols to t only animal welfare but also the safety of their caregivers.
This tragic incident should spur increased awareness about proper chamber management practices and safety precautions in the realm of equine hyperbaric therapy. It is incumbent upon us to learn from these experiences and take necessary steps to prevent similar incidents in future, safeguarding both animals and people who dep on such therapies.
This article is reproduced from: https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2012-04-01/explosion-hyperbaric-chamber-kills-woman-horse
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Horse Hyperbaric Chamber Explosion Incident Equine Rehabilitation Center Tragedy Florida Kesmarc Fatal Accident Analysis Safety Measures in Equine Therapy Steel horseshoes and Chamber Sparks Risk Veterinary Hyperbaric Oxygen Training Importance