Fire officials from all Hamilton County Fire Departments will receive pet oxygen masks for each one of their fire stations from Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management on Monday at 6 p.m. at Chester Frost Park.
Although firefighters attempt to save a pet’s life during a fire, the damage a pet sustains from inhalation of smoke or carbon monoxide overwhelms many of the animals that often die at the scene. If firefighters were able to provide life-saving equipment such an oxygen mask for animal use as they do for humans, more animals would be saved. Thanks to a generous donation by a gentleman, who wishes to remain anonymous, firefighters will now have an opportunity to assist pets who are experiencing respiratory distress or failure due to a fire.
The pet oxygen devices work similar to equipment manufactured for humans suffering from smoke inhalation except this device solely for four-legged animals. The device has a cone shaped design with a rubber seal that creates a snug fit over the animal’s nose and mouth making the oxygen delivery more effective than oxygen masks designed for human.
The pet kits come with several masks made in various sizes that are specifically designed to fit different types of pets. Separate masks are designed for dogs, cats, birds and reptiles. The device will aid in the system-wide efforts of delivery of oxygen to pets in respiratory distress or respiratory failure, and minimize the number of animal fatalities that occur due to fire.
These devices will be available to these volunteer firefighters in saving pet’s lives by reducing their chance of dying of respiratory distress or failure from a fire.