Donation could help save lives of pets: Pet-specific oxygen masks a new tool for fire department

Posted 2/27/18

Faces in the crowd and of those working the fire — caught in the red, blue and white lights of emergency vehicles — showed the stress of the situation.

At first, there was no way in. The flames were out of control.

As soon as passage was …

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Donation could help save lives of pets: Pet-specific oxygen masks a new tool for fire department

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There was a different feeling in the air as Powell firefighters battled a blaze in the Cactus Garden Court on a recent Saturday night. When the call first came out over the radios, it was thought someone was trapped inside.

Faces in the crowd and of those working the fire — caught in the red, blue and white lights of emergency vehicles — showed the stress of the situation.

At first, there was no way in. The flames were out of control.

As soon as passage was safe, firefighters entered the home. By the time they could get through the front door, they knew all people associated with the residence were safe. Yet they still raced through the door hoping to save family pets.

Firefighters soon came out with Petey. His fur was smoking, but he was alert and clinging to his rescuer. Emergency medical technicians and firemen immediately began to treat the bulldog.

“I didn’t expect to have Petey as a patient,” said Kaitlynn Norman, a Powell Valley Healthcare EMT who’s studying to be a nurse. “It doesn’t matter if our patient is human or animal, we treat them the same.”

Most firefighters have pets. Their animals are part of their families and the emotions for victims of fires are earned through the nightmares of the job. It’s not the first time Powell firefighters attempted to rescue pets. Unfortunately, it won’t be the last, according to Damian Dicks, the volunteer department’s chief.

“It doesn’t happen often, but if we can, we’ll do our best to save [pets],” Dicks said.

Now, thanks to a donation of pet-specific oxygen masks by the company Invisible Fence, area pets have a better chance of survival.

As firefighters brought Petey to emergency medical technicians on the scene, it was obvious the English Bulldog had been through hell. He was scared, burned and having trouble breathing. Norman and EMT/volunteer firefighter Geoff Hovivian immediately tried to get Petey oxygen — a difficult task with the wrong tools.

“You’re just giving him blow by; masks [made for humans] don’t make proper contact. These specialized masks will be a whole lot better,” said Hovivian, an EMT and patient/family liaison for Powell Valley Healthcare.

Industry reports suggest up to 150,000 pets die each year in fires — most succumbing to smoke inhalation. In many states, emergency responders lack the equipment to resuscitate and save pets.

Invisible Fence officials say they created Project Breathe to get fire departments the proper tools to save animals. Fire departments are eligible to receive a kit that includes three sizes, free of charge.

“The way we see it, there’s no better way to fulfill our mission,” the company said in a news release about the charity.

Petey didn’t make it. He had rebounded while in the care of Powell Veterinary Services, but the damage was too much to overcome. Buddy, a dachshund, also perished in the fire.

“It’s harder with an animal, because they can’t tell you how they feel,” said Norman, who has been an EMT for five years. “Your heart falls out of your chest because you don’t know how to help them. You try to do your best, but with no voice or emotion it’s hard to tell if you’re helping.”

Dealing with losses, both human and animal, are tough for emergency workers.

“This fire was an emotional roller coaster. But we’re all a team. If you have a bad call we talk to each other, debrief and prepare for the next day, because you know there will be someone else you’ll need to save the next day,” Norman said.

Chief Dicks had to break the news to the resident. While losing a pet is tragic, informing their owners of the loss is still emotionally taxing.

“You don’t want to be insensitive, but there’s no easy way to break the news to homeowners. We wouldn’t be human if we didn’t have emotions,” Dicks said. “If you ball it up and keep it inside it will haunt you.”

Dicks hopes to have the right tools in hand for the next pet rescue, thankful for the generous donation, but not really looking forward to its use. He also stresses homeowners make sure they have working smoke alarms in their homes.

“They only save lives if they’re working,” he said.

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