June 19, 2008
For Immediate Release

PHOTO OP: This Saturday, June 21 at 10:am at Marshalltown Fire Dept.


Pet Oxygen Kits to be donated to local Fire Departments and EMT's

Thanks to three young high school girls, a teacher, a groomer and the new animal welfare endeavor (Iowa CARES), our county's emergency responders will have new equipment to rescue animals in the case of smoke inhalation.

 The Iowa Compassion Animal Rescue & Education Sanctuary (Iowa C.A.R.E.S) endeavor, along with the Marshall County Emergency Medical Services Association (MCEMSA) had originally executed the idea. However, it wasn't until three high school students came forward to raise the funds.

Students Cristal Ramirez, Ashley Verdinez, and Maria Perez with the help of Marshalltown High School teacher Janelle Hawk and Kara Wildman of Happy Tails Grooming Center, got together and organized a dog wash fundraiser. 

The Recovery O2 masks can be used to provide oxygen to animals. The mask has a 22mm
 x hose barb adapter on the inlet side, allowing you to connect either oxygen tubing (included) or the adapter can be removed to allow the attachment of a standard 22mm breathing circuit.

The mask also has dual vents on the sides to allow unrestricted inhalation and exhalation.
 If oxygen flow is set too low for patient requirement, the vents will allow the patient to inhale
ambient air. If oxygen flow is set too high for patient requirement, the vents will allow excess air to escape. The masks and tubing can be cleaned with a dilute chlorhexidine solution or mild soap and water.

Enough money was raised to donate five kits.  LeGrand ambulance will receive one kit, State Center Ambulance will receive one kit, Marshalltown Fire Department will receive one kit, and Marshalltown Ambulance (MAPS) will receive two kits.

"We run into it from time to time where we find pets in houses that have had fires in them. Sometime we are able to save them, sometimes not," said Marshalltown Fire Chief Larry Squiers.  "We certainly believe that the equipment you are providing will help in these cases. We have had cases in the past where our firefighters have given mouth to mouth on cats and dogs and obviously that is not sanitary or as effective as this equipment will be.  We look forward to using these kits" Chief Squiers said. 

Squiers also added of the students' determination to raise the funds, "We are very excited and pleased that they took the time to do this."

These masks have proven to be a priceless tool for other communities that have saved lives of beloved family pets, such as one case recently in Florida .

Late last year, NBC6 in South Florida reported “The cat was barely breathing and lethargic when paramedics used the specialized pet mask to provide oxygen to the animal. After about five minutes of therapy the cat began to breath normally and became active again.

“This was our third successful use of the pet masks,” stated [Fire Chief] Pudney. “They are proving to be an invaluable tool.”

Humane organizations in Maine and Wisconsin have recently raised funds to provide the pet resuscitation kits to their fire departments as well.

Visit the Iowa C.A.R.E.S. website at www.iowacaresanctuary.org to download and print a free window sign.  Residents are invited to place the signs in their windows in case of fire or other emergency, including floods, to alert rescue workers that there are pets in the home.

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Update Feb. 14, 2008

More pets rescued with Fire Masks.

Please help pitch in to help us provide this life saving tool for all Central Iowa!

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Press Release

Pet Oxygen Masks and Resuscitation Kits

 

For Immediate Release

Contact Kim Elder at 483-4046
Or Kim Monroe at 641-485

December 26, 2007

An oxygen mask can be an invaluable tool in an emergency situation such as a fire.  Not just for humans, either. Animals’ lives can be saved with these tools as well.

 The Iowa Compassion Animal Rescue & Education Sanctuary (Iowa C.A.R.E.S) is joining with the Marshall County Emergency Medical Services Association (MCEMSA) to raise funds to provide pet oxygen masks to local Fire Departments and Ambulance Units.

These masks, however, have proven to be a priceless tool for other fire fighters who have saved lives of beloved family pets, such as one case recently in Florida .

On December 19^th, NBC6 in South Florida reported “The cat was barely breathing and lethargic when paramedics used the specialized pet mask to provide oxygen to the animal. After about five minutes of therapy the cat began to breath normally and became active again.