DONATED OXYGEN MASKS WILL HELP GASTON FIRE RESCUE CATS AND DOGS
Posted: April 17th, 2012 12:54 PM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-04/3743/53459/masks.jpg (Two of the pet oxygen masks donated to Gaston Fire by Invisible Fence of Greater Portland.)
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-04/3743/53459/IMG_6049.jpg (Steve Pearson of Invisible Fence of Greater Portland, left, presents a pet oxygen mask to Gaston Fire Chief Roger Mesenbrink)
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-04/3743/53459/closeup.jpg (Steve Pearson of Invisble Fence of Greater Portland, left, presents a pet oxygen mask to Gaston Fire Chief Roger Mesenbrink.)
The Gaston Rural Fire District has become well-known for rescuing horses. Now, because of a donated pet oxygen mask kit, Gaston's firefighters have a new tool to help save smaller animals as well.
The set consists of three rescue masks, designed to fit over the mouths and noses of dogs and cats. The kit was donated by Invisible Fence(R) of Greater Portland.
"We realize that humans are the first-priority, but in many cases, pets can be saved if firefighters have the right equipment," Steve Pearson of Invisible Fence of Greater Portland said. "Project Breathe is simply a way of giving firefighters the tools necessary to save pets' lives."
"All our guys have dogs and cats at home," Gaston Fire Chief Roger Mesenbrink said of his firefighters. "I personally have dogs, so trust me, we all know how important this is."
Rescuing animals is nothing new for Gaston's firefighters. In a career that has spanned more than 40 years, Mesenbrink has performed rescue breathing on a number of dogs and cats. "I won't hesitate to do it again, and these will make it much easier."
Gaston crews have become well known for rescuing horses from precarious situations. In the past five years, the department has saved five horses from swollen creeks, steep crevices or tangles of blackberry brambles. Although the donated masks are not designed for large animals, after training in the use of the devices, one long-time firefighter said: "If we ever need one of these to save a horse's life, we'll figure out a way to make it work."
Nationally, the Invisible Fence company's Project Breathe campaign has donated oxygen masks to hundreds of fire departments, from ones smaller than Gaston to others in Chicago, Cleveland and Memphis.
"We've found that larger departments often already have pet masks," Pearson, of the company's Portland office, said. "Smaller departments all want them, but with money so tight, they often can't afford them. That's where we come in."
The rescue mask kit is now carried in Gaston's "first-out" fire engine, which responds to nearly every fire or other situation that might require its use.
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