Save Your Pet From A Fire
In this film, Mitch Wilder, pet specialist, talks to an assistant fire chief about what to do during a fire to save your pet. Often times, even when a pet is rescued from a burning house, they suffer the effects of smoke inhalation. One tip to make sure your pets are safe is to be sure to have a decal near the front door to inform rescuers of how many and which types of animals are inside. Also, be sure to know where your pets’ favorite hiding places are and the spots where they like to sleep.
Step 1: Quick access to animal
Mitch Wilder: Being the victim of a house fire is a dramatic experience for any homeowner. Even if injuries to people are minimal, many times, pets are left behind or suffer the effects of smoke inhalation.
John Whalen: The faster that we can go to the area that the animal is in and get them out of that environment, the better off and more chance of survival the animals are going to have.
Step 2: Put a Decal up
Mitch Wilder: Make sure you have a decal near your front door that lets rescue personnel know you have a pet.
John Whelan: That does tell us that there is a pest inside or the possibility is likely. Usually there is a number, two pets, two dogs, two cats.
Step 3: Know the pet's hiding spots
Mitch Wilder: Make note where your pets favorite hiding and sleeping spots are. Pets may run to the comfort zone when they are stressed.
John Whelan: One of the things that we run into is their owners lock them up during the day in cages and things like that. That's dangerous. There is no way they can go anywhere.
Step 4: Keep Calm
Mitch Wilder: The key to fire is to keep calm and it is not a bad idea to invest in one of these emergency smoke hoods. This smoke hood will give you fifteen minutes of breathable airtime to get you and your pet out to safety. Most victims of fires die from smoke or toxic gasses and not from burns. This is why it is vital that firefighters administer oxygen. Masks made for humans are ineffective on pets but there is a new solution being used.
John Whelan: These were donated to us, masks, some of these by a local veterinarian. The way that this mask is shaped and developed there is no air escape. It is only allowing 100% oxygen from our tanks to go directly into the patient's body.
Step 5: Prevention keeps pets safe.
Mitch Wilder: Of course prevention is important too. If you have a pet, keep candles out of paws reach. If your pet likes to chew, consider the TRO fire shield. It's an extension cord that shuts off power when a pet chews it. Looking out for your pet's safety, I'm Mitch Wilder.
