Oxygen Masks For Pets

[FF402 133]

Anyone hear anything about some Fire and EMS agencies carrying oxygen masks for pets? around here?

Alaskan Fire Departments Get Pet Oxygen Masks

http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/a...nId=46&id=30299

Are we even allowed to do this?

[WAS967 97]

Sure. Why not? If there are no human patients that need to be cared for but there are animal patients that need tending to, I doubt you will be held liable for treating a pet. In fact, several cases in the past of EMTs treating pets from fires, etc have been seen by the public, and recieved very favorable results. I recall a few years ago Bill Rothchild (This Year's EMT-P of the year) was treating a pet from a fire with oxygen. The newspaper was there and took an award winning photo of him. Now if there are multiple patients along with animals in need of care, you have to treat the humans first. Only if there are resources available to spare, can you start dealing with the animals. The only exception that might apply would be to K9 Officers who are considered officers of the law, and may need to be treated equally, but I'm not sure.