Firefighters receive oxygen masks for pets

Greater Sudbury’s fire crews now have eight more pet oxygen masks that can be used on any pet that needs help breathing due to smoke inhalation.

In a news release, the city said the donation was part of a national effort called Project Breathe, by the Invisible Fence Brand. The company has donated more than 10,000 masks throughout Canada and the U.S.

Each kit comes with a small, medium and large breathing mask, equipment bags to carry the gear and leashes and collars. The cone-shaped plastic mask, which fits snugly on snouts, can resuscitate animals suffering some smoke inhalation.

They can be used on dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even birds.

“I want to give special thanks to not only Invisible Fence for donating the masks, but also to local Chelmsford resident Lee Duguid. Lee put in a lot of time and effort to find an organization who could donate the pet masks to the Fire Department,” Chief Trevor Bain is quoted as saying in the release.

“Losing a pet due to a house fire can be a devastating experience. We know that pets are an extension of a family and we are pleased to have the pet oxygen masks at several stations available for use when necessary.”

The new masks will we placed at stations 1, Main (Van Horne), 2 Minnow Lake, 3, New Sudbury, 4, Long Lake, 12, Dowling, 14, Levack, 16, Val Therese and 18, Capreol. Although the masks will be stationed at these locations, they will always be available as an equipped fire truck with medical aid and oxygen is sent to all working fires in any area of the city.

For more information about the City of Greater Sudbury Fire Services, visit www.greatersudbury.ca. For more information about the Project Breathe Program, visit www.invisiblefence.com and search for project breathe.