Millburn First Responders Now Equipped with Oxygen Masks for Pets

The Millburn-Short Hills Volunteer First Aid Squad has a new tool to help save family pets in home fires and other emergencies. The squad has received a donation of three sets of pet oxygen masks from at-home pet services provider Canine Company through its Canine Love charitable campaign to outfit first responders with the life-saving device.

The mask kits were presented to MSHVFAS Captain Melissa Campbell Wednesday by Judith Stivaly, Canine Company’s Essex County representative. Stivaly answered questions from squad members and demonstrated one of the masks with the assistance of Jury, a yellow Labrador Retriever, and Tuna, a Blue American Staffordshire Terrier.

Captain Campbell said the squad “is routinely dispatched when the fire department is handling a structure fire in case any civilians or firefighters are injured. These pet masks will allow us to offer extra assistance to our residents by having a first aid tool on all of our ambulances that has been specifically designed to help us assist any pets should they suffer from smoke inhalation during a house fire.”

Family pets are at special risk during home fires because they are unable to leave the house without help. An estimated 40,000 die each year nationwide from smoke inhalation, according to insurance industry estimates. Human oxygen masks do not fit over most pets’ snouts, making it difficult to provide life-saving oxygen effectively on scene.

The pet oxygen masks donated by Canine Company are specifically designed for the shape of an animal’s snout. Each kit includes three sizes of masks to fit a range of pets – from small mammals like rabbits to giant breed dogs. Donated masks have been used by first responders to save at least nine pets just this year.

“Our company was founded by a family of pet lovers and our mission is to help other families keep their pets healthy, safe and happy at home,” says Stivaly. “We do that with the products and services we offer, but also through this campaign to donate pet masks to first responders. We are delighted to be able to help the Millburn-Short Hills Volunteer First Aid Squad protect family pets across the city.”

The Millburn Short Hills Volunteer First Aid Squad, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit New Jersey corporation established in 1958. MSHVFAS is an all-volunteer, donor funded organization that is the primary EMS provider for the residents and visitors to Millburn Township, answering emergency calls and providing Basic Life Support to the sick, injured or debilitated. The squad regularly handles over 1400 calls per year and is always looking for volunteers. For information or to volunteer, visit https://www.mshvfas.org or send an email to info@mshvfas.org

Canine Company helps families across New York, New England, and New Jersey keep their pets healthy, safe and happy at home with services like the Invisible Fence pet containment systems and Manners dog obedience training. For more information, visit www.caninecompany.com. Over the past decade, the Company has donated masks to more than 500 fire departments and rescue squads across the northeast.