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Pet oxygen masks donated to WBFD
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · February 16, 2017
West Branch Fire Department recently received new equipment to help resuscitate cats and dogs pulled from burning homes.
Air For Paws, a California-based non-profit, donated three oxygen masks designed specifically for pets to the WBFD. This is only the second donation by Air For Paws to an Iowa organization, with the first going to Bernard Emergency Service Center, which received one. However, these are among nearly 1,100 donated to groups in 43 states and in six foreign countries, according to founder Terry Moriyama.
Emergency Medical Technician Sandy Heick saw an article about resuscitating pets, contacted Air For Paws about the masks, which led to the donation the kits. Heick estimates they cost between $100 and $300.
“We really appreciate it,” Heick said. “Animals are so important to people.”
The fire department covers all or part of six townships, but only the City of West Branch requires pet owners to register them. Deputy City Clerk Gordon Edgar said there are 163 dogs and 42 cats registered so far this year, or 205 pets.
PetOxygenMask.blogspot.com estimates that more than 40,000 pets die each year from smoke inhalation, though the web site emphasizes that is an estimate.
Heick led a training session Feb. 8 to more than 30 members of the WBFD, showing them a YouTube video of how to deliver cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to a pet without a mask. At the part about mouth-to-snout breathing, some firefighters cringed a bit.
“That’s why we have the masks,” Heick said.
She then showed them how to do it with the pet oxygen masks, using a mannequin dog, “Casper,” which Heick said the department purchased specifically for training with the new masks. The masks come with plastic bottles which may be attached to force air into the pets’ lungs.
Heick said she envisions the masks used mostly at fires; Fire Chief Kevin Stoolman said they would work with drowning scenes, too.
The WBFD plans to train with the masks annually.
Families may request stickers from the WBFD to place on windows to notify firefighters that pets reside in the home.
Air For Paws started as a grassroots effort in 2004 and earned non-profit status in 2009. Moriyama started the group in memory of two of her pets who died due to smoke inhalation during a fire.
Recipients of the kits include fire departments, animal control centers, animal rescue operations and numerous air force and military bases.
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