SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Fire Department received potentially life saving devices for pets from Western Mass Invisible Fence this week.
Project Breathe was created to give pet oxygen mask kits to fire departments and other first responders. The kits include small, medium, and large masks, and each fire department is eligible to receive one kit.
Southwick Fire Chief Russ Anderson was given pet oxygen masks from Western Mass Invisible Fence this week. (Photo from Southwick Fire Department)
Based in Longmeadow, Western Mass Invisible Fence reaches out to local fire departments every year to see if they’ll accept their donation of a pet oxygen mask kit.
Southwick Fire Chief Russ Anderson acknowledges that pets are an integral part of families and knew the masks could be important when there is a fire in homes with pets.
“It gives the pet a chance, it’s more efficient,” said Anderson. “The masks are tailored towards their bodies and it can make the application of oxygen more efficient.”
Pets tend to hide during an event like a fire making it hard for fire personnel to find them in a timely manner, which may result in greater smoke inhalation by the animal. Anderson believes the masks could help reduce deaths of pets in these situations.
“These masks allow us to provide oxygen in an attempt to revive a pet, should they be overcoming from smoke conditions,” said Anderson.
Emphasizing the importance of oxygen masks for pets, the U.S. Fire Administration estimates that 40,000 to 150,000 pets die each year in fires. With a lot of fire personnel lacking the equipment to help save pets, the Project Breathe program has saved at least 190 pets from fire and smoke inhalation. Over 23,500 masks have been donated as a result of the Project Breathe.
