A tiny piece of equipment on board Columbia County fire trucks helped save a life Tuesday. A dog suffering from smoke inhalation was able to get the oxygen he needed. For firefighters, it’s all about saving the big and little lives. All it takes is one small extra piece of equipment on the fire truck is all it takes to help save the lives of dogs and cats that have been caught in a fire and suffering from smoke inhalation. While it is possible to put a human mask over a dog’s snout they aren’t really shaped right to properly do the job. That coupled with the fact that all the human oxygen masks could be in use by human victims of smoke inhalation.
Most pet owners leave their furry companions home alone when they go to work, pets are left to fend for themselves in the event of a house fire. While affixing ‘rescue alert stickers’ to your home can be helpful to first responders, saving the pet’s life is not assured. Unlike humans who instinctively run out during fires, pets instinctively look for a hiding place to protect them from the fire.
Far too many pets die each year of smoke asphyxiation. While firemen attempt to get pets safely out of burning structures, they are not able to revive them unless they have the proper equipment — pet oxygen masks. These specially-designed pet oxygen masks can be used both on conscious pets that have suffered from smoke inhalation and pets that need to be resuscitated after losing consciousness from exposure to the dangerous toxic fumes.
Generally Pet Oxygen Masks come in kits of 3 for various size animals like dogs, cats, and ferrets or birds this way the fire department is sure to have the right sized mask to help your pet when they are in need. Each mask can also be quickly attached to an “Ambu-Bag” should the pet require manual breathing assistance from responders on the scene before they are taken to a vet for a more thourough evaluation. Since 2008, on Pet Oxygen Mask Supplier Wag’N O2 Fur Life® has been able to help provide over 4,423 pet oxygen mask kits to over 1,652 Fire and Fire Rescue departments across North America. Their price for these potentially lifesaving kits is just $70 which in an emergency will seem like a very small price to pay if it can save your pet. While these masks are rarely needed or used by the departments just knowing they are available if they are needed not only allows the firefighters many of whom are animal lovers and owners themselves but neighborhood home owners know that they are available to their community.
I had never heard of “animal” masks. I am going to look into these for our local fire department. Thanks for sharing this valuable info.
Oh my goodness. I never even thought about oxygen masks for dogs, mainly because I don’t have a dog but I do know how precious a dog can be and they are after all, they are family too.
I never even thought about this! Now you have me wondering if my fire department is prepared! I need to find out!
I don’t understand why if they are saving humans they can’t have masks to do it better.
As a vet tech, I’ve seen the unfortunate aftermath of pets in a house fire. I wish these masks were mandatory.
I am not sure, I hope so!
I really doubt it but I personally know how to use a baby mask for a cat because I have done that before. I will probably see if my brother’s company would be willing to donate one because I live off of disablity
I don’t know if my fire department has pet oxygen masks but come monday morning I will be making a call
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Oh my, I never even thought of this (I just didn’t know). It seems like a small price to pay to save animals’ lives.
I had never heard of these masks, and really hope that my local fire department has them. I cannot imagine what it would be like to lose my pet because of a house fire.
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One of the companies that is part of the organization I work for provides pet O2 masks for their local fire departments and it’s great. I wish more companies would do it! That video brought tears to my eyes.
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I doubt that my fire department does, but I have long thought all of them should. But, since politics here is so corrupt I doubt it they will get it without a donation.
I don’t think out fire department has them. I had never heard of them before this post.
omg! i started to cry while i was watching the video. i had no idea about the animal masks. i’m going to contact my fire dept and see if they have them, and if they don’t i’ll ask how i can help to get them in the fire house. thank you so much for the infor.
I doubt it that they have pet oxygen masks.
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I hope so! I wish they were mandatory–how heartbreaking to not be able to them. I’m gonna w/ my local FDs.
Yes, Monroe Fire Department does have oxygen masks for pets.
Unfortunately, my local NYC fire department does not have oxygen masks for pet.
You think of firefighters always saving people not pets. What a great post to discuss the unique challenges in saving pets and having the proper equipment to save them. I know in my area, the local SPCA donates pet masks to fire stations.
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