North Rustico firefighters get pet first aid and rescue training

Members of the North Rustico Fire Department receivedsome training Tuesday evening from Atlantic Vet College officials on pet first aid and rescue.

They covered everything from cardiac arrest and respiratory distress to how to approach a scared animal.

There is a good chance firefighters will come across cats or dogs when dealing with a house fire, said North Rustico fire chief Alison Larkin.

She saidsome animal oxygen masks were donated to the department a while ago, but firefighters didn't have any real training on how to safely use them.That is, until now.

"Like how much oxygen that we needed to turn the masks on to, what flow rate for what animal, and what size," said Larkin. "And, you know, things like that. So it was nice for them to come out and show us how to properly use them."

"And theyalso gave us a few pointers in how to go up to a scared cat or dog and get them to come to us or rescue them from under a bed or wherever we might find them."

Larkinnotedthere was a lot of interest from the members, with about half of the fire department attending.

She saidone the firefighters even brought a puppy, Skye, so firefighters could see how to check for a heart rate, and how to handle the masks.

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