Taking care of your pets in an emergency
Mingo Woman’s Club gets demo on administering ‘mouth-to-snout’ technique
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MINGO JUNCTION -- The January meeting of the GFWC Woman's Club of Mingo Junction welcomed one of its own as the guest speaker who explained how to respond in emergency situations involving pets.
Stephanie Rouse was introduced. She presented a CPR class on using CPR on your pets. She also passed out flyers on what to do for sick pets.
"Your pets are like family, so you need to know what to do in an emergency when something happens to them," explained Rouse, who started working for the Jefferson County Red Cross 26 years ago as its blood services consultant and administrative assistant, then worked 11 years as the Wheeling chapter's health and safety director.
Rouse had been a CPR and first aid instructor, but she became trained in Pet CPR while in Wheeling, conducting many classes across the state. She said she brought that enthusiasm with her when she returned to the Jefferson County Chapter where "Pet Manikins" were bought with personal donations from pet lovers. They are used in training people how to administer, for example, CPR to an animal.
The German Shepard, Rouse explained, was named "Zeus" as requested by the donor. The cat and huskie were donated next and named "Clara" and "Barton," respectively.
"These animals are equipped with a mechanism and disposable airway where you can actually perform CPR," Rouse said in explaining the steps. "First, you lay them on their side; check to see if they are breathing or showing any signs of life; open the airway and check the throat and mouth for foreign object; if not breathing, bring the tongue between the front teeth and hold the mouth closed as you breathe through their nose four or five rapid breaths," she said.
"It's called mouth-to-snout breathing," Rouse continued. "If they do not breathe on their own, then you begin chest compressions about where their front elbow would be when you bring it toward their chest. Speed of compressions and breaths vary depending on the size of the pet."
Rouse also shared how to make a muzzle and Elizabethan collars and how to bandage and transport an injured pet. "Make sure your pet always has your up-to-date information on its collar and consider placing a chip in case they get lost." Another thing to have available is a pet first aid kit which should have a current photograph, list of medications, veterinarian's contact information and the location of the nearest 24-hour pet emergency room.
"Have a plan for your pet if you have to be evacuated from your home due to a disaster," Rouse added. "Do you know hotels that are pet friendly and maybe a place that can kennel your pet?"
Rouse said pet manuals with DVDs and first aid kits are available on loan at the Red Cross Store. Rouse recently retired for the third time from teaching classes but remains active as a chapter volunteer and a member of the Disaster Action Team.
President Janet Petrella gave the welcome at the meeting held at the Mingo Senior Citizens Center. Joanne Gorney gave the invocation.
Reports were given on the lottery tree fundraiser, Grand Theater project and See's Candy sale.
The club received a thank-you for its donation to Urban Mission Ministries.
Joanne Gorney is working on the scholarship.
A meeting will be held to review reports. Members will be contacted.
Legislation Day will be held March 18 in Morristown, Ohio, and is being sponsored by the Junior Women's Club of Barnesville. The state convention will be held April 21-22 in Dublin, Ohio, at the Embassy Suites.
Hostesses for the evening were Gorney and Rouse, chairmen of the Public Issues-Emergency Preparedness Committee.
The next meeting will be held Feb. 9 at the Mingo Senior Citizens Center. Members of the Public Issues Committee will be the hostesses. Clara Sue Milewsky and Petrella are co-chairmen. Guest speaker Beth Rupert-Warren from Coleman Professional Services will present a program on mental health.