Pet Oxygen Masks Save Animal Lives During and After Fires

The call came into North Port, Florida Fire-Rescue for a house fire response. As can be the case on many calls, human life is not the only concern—there may be pets involved as well. That point has been driven home by television reports on the California wildfires as people leave their homes with pets in tow.

During the recent North Port call, the homeowner was outside and told rescuers there were four cats and a dog inside her home.

“She believed that they were located at the back left bedroom, so we had an idea of where to look initially,” said Dave Ingalls, district chief and PIO for North Port Fire Rescue.

It’s not always easy to locate pets in a burned structure. Ingalls said animals will typically hide underneath beds or in closets. “It’s a scary environment for them,” he pointed out.

Ingalls said in the primary search, the crew was able to locate one dog and one of the cats. They subsequently found the other animals once smoke conditions had cleared, providing better visibility. Two of the animals were running around.

“We couldn’t catch them,” Ingalls said. “They were great hiders.”

It was apparent that one of the cats needed oxygen, which firefighter Eric Walsh administered using a SurgiVet pet oxygen mask. Ingalls said the pet oxygen masks are valuable tools in rescue efforts. North Port Fire Rescue integrated the pet oxygen masks into its rescue apparatus about 10 years ago.

“A member of our community donated them to area fire departments because it was a cause they were interested in,” Ingalls said, adding that the agency now purchases them. They are now included in all the agency’s advance life support units.

“We’ve used them a handful of times with dogs, cats, and bunnies being resuscitated on these post-fire calls,” he added.

Since animals obviously cannot communicate like humans, rescuers must rely on physical cues of distress. “The cat that we resuscitated the other night was lethargic, so you could tell it had some of that smoke exposure,” Ingalls said. “The crew brought him out and handed him off to one of our firefighters who was outside, because the primary search crew still had work to do on the inside.”

Walsh wrapped the cat up in his bunker coat and then administered oxygen for more than 20 minutes before the cat started to perk up a little bit. Ingalls noted the homeowner was “very anxious” to get the cat back into her arms. In stages, the crew kept bringing the pets out the way they found them.

“She was happier and happier by the minute, which was nice,” Ingalls said. “We treat four-legged friends like we do our two-legged friends. We make every effort to save the humans and the animals.”

While the fire-rescue crew is trained on the use of the pet oxygen masks like any other piece of equipment, they are simple to use, Ingalls noted. “It’s pretty much a cone with a high flow oxygen tube coming off it that hooks into one of our portable tanks,” he said. “We essentially hold it onto the onto the animal's face and it works well.”

While sometimes the outcome is not what was hoped, in most cases the department has had great success with them. “In September, we had a very similar fire where several pets were rescued. We administered oxygen and they perked up healthy and happy,” Ingalls said. “These masks are very valuable for us.”

And for the pets’ owners.

“People treat pets like members of the family, so being able to reunite with them is important to them obviously, but also important to us,” Ingalls said. “That’s our job. If we can have a positive outcome on a situation that's already bad and try to make it just a bit better, it makes a difference.”

Ingalls recommends all agencies to carry the pet oxygen masks. “They’re simple to use and they're effective,” he said.

Arden Moore concurred. She is the founder of Pet First Aid 4U, a veterinarian-approved program based in Dallas, Texas. Moore trains a lot of first responders in her first aid instructor program, which she conducts in person and remotely for a variety of people and groups. 

“Many have commented on how they appreciate groups such as Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, pet sitters, and doggy daycares donating pet oxygen masks to their departments,” Moore said of first responders. “Some have mentioned how they wished that someone trained in using pet oxygen masks was available at the time of donation to help train their crews on using them.”

Moore pointed out it’s vital that animals caught in house fires receive oxygen immediately on the scene. “Inhaling smoke can impact their breathing as they are inhaling toxins,” she said. “Pets come in all sizes and species. There are more than 200 recognized dog breeds. That’s why it is important for first responders to have pet oxygen masks in three sizes.”

New houses today are made of synthetic materials that burn far faster in a fire than natural materials used in older homes, Moore noted. “Also, many people prefer open concepts in house interior designs,” she said. “This opening provides flames with a lot of oxygen to burn quickly.”

In fires, pets can suffer second- and third-degree burns, smoke inhalation and more medical issues, Moore noted.

“Wrapping them in cool wet towels while exiting can help them,” she said. “Never apply ice on a burn on a pet as it can cause the pet to go into shock. Do not apply burn cream on a pet enroute to the vet clinic because you risk causing more damage to the skin and infection. Always call ahead enroute to the vet clinic to report a pet emergency so the staff can be ready to help the second you arrive. Minutes count.”