Fire Departments Receive Pet Oxygen Masks in Clark County

Add Feedback

Share |

April 13, 2011

Thanks to a donation from a local business, Clark County and fire departments in all area cities are equipped with oxygen masks to help save pets' lives at house fires.

The Clark County Fire Department received 75 pet oxygen mask kits from Invisible Fence ® Brand of Southern Nevada to help revive rescued animals. An additional 100 kits are being distributed to fire departments in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Mesquite and Boulder City. The donation is one of the largest made as part of a national effort called Project Breathe™ to equip fire stations across the U.S. and Canada. The project started in 2009 and to date has donated 10,000 pet oxygen mask kits to fire departments. The Clark County Fire Department helped organize the local donation with the company's Southern Nevada-based dealer. The mask kits are valued at $60 each, and feature three masks to treat pets of different sizes.  

"We are very grateful for this donation and to have Invisible Fence as a community partner," said Clark County Fire Chief Bertral Washington. "It's devastating for people to lose pets in a fire, and this equipment gives our responders some extra tools for saving the lives of important family members." Representatives from area fire departments gathered at the Clark County Fire Department Station 18 at 575 E. Flamingo Road today to receive the donated masks and view a demonstration of how the masks work. The cone-shaped masks are similar to oxygen masks used to treat humans suffering from smoke inhalation. The masks are reusable and are primarily designed for dogs and cats, but they have been used on hamsters and iguanas in some cases. An estimated 40,000 to 150,000 pets die in fires each year mostly from smoke inhalation. Clark County will equip all of its fire engines and paramedic rescue units with the masks. 

"We hope that by donating oxygen mask kits that we will contribute to saving more pets and hopefully protect pet owners that may risk their own life to save a pet in a fire," said Liz Roos, owner of Invisible Fence of Southern Nevada. Invisible Fence ® Brand provides professional installation, training and product solutions to keep pets safe indoors and out. For more information, contact Liz Roos at (702) 254-0271 or SouthernNevada@invisiblefence.com or see www.InvisibleFence.com/O2.                                  
Author:Clark County Fire Department Press Release