The volunteer fire department in Jericho received a donation at their monthly meeting that will help prevent pets from falling victim to smoke inhalation. Assistant Chief John Lottes of the Jericho Fire Department contacted Canine Company to request this life-saving equipment.
His request was happily fulfilled, and three pet oxygen recovery mask kits were contributed to the department’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) company, Rescue Company No. 4. These rescue kits will be carried on the department’s ambulances. Lt. Sandee Sammartano, accompanied by her two dogs, Storm and Daisy, accepted the donation on behalf of the department.
Since 2008, Canine Company has donated over 500 masks to Fire Companies and EMS squads throughout the Northeast.
“We hope that by donating pet oxygen mask kits we can contribute to saving more pets and hopefully protect pet owners that may risk their own life to save a pet in a fire,” said Audrey Lindner, Community Outreach Supervisor at Canine Company.
The Project BreatheT initiative was started by Invisible FenceR Brand with the goal of equipping every fire station in the U.S. and Canada with the life-saving masks. To date, over 10,000 kits have been distributed across North America.
Although the number of pets that die in fires is not an official statistic kept by the U.S. Fire Administration, industry web sites and sources have cited that an estimated 40,000 to 150,000 pets die each year in fires; most succumbing to smoke inhalation. The donation of these specially designed pet oxygen masks will enable Jericho first responders to efficiently administer oxygen to a stricken animal.
Each kit contains a small, medium and large mask. In addition to cats and dogs, these masks can help save smaller pets such as ferrets, hamsters and birds and larger animals including foals, sheep and calves. The masks come in a convenient storage bag, are reusable and easy to clean. Manufactured by Surgivet, the masks have dual vents and a rubber mounted 22 mm oxygen adapter to enable unrestricted inhalation and exhalation of air.
For more information or to request an animal recovery mask donation for your fire department, visit www.caninecompany.com/projectbreathe.
