FF's attend to electrocuted cat

[sconfire]

Frizzled Cat Recovering From Jolt, Fire, Fall

POSTED: 2:12 pm EDT August 19, 2005

GARDNERVILLE, Nev. -- A cat in Nevada is recovering from a foray atop a power pole that left it jolted, frizzled and dazed -- and with a little less fur.

Firefighters believe the cat touched a relay switch on the 25,000-volt line while checking out a bird's nest. It fell from the 40-foot pole and sparked a fire outside a firehouse.

Firefighters found the singed cat near the base of the pole. They assumed it was dead, until they noticed it was breathing. They put it on a blanket and gave it oxygen.

It turns out the burns weren't as serious as they looked. One of the firefighters said "the fire just burned all his hair off." The cat's expected to make a full recovery, and will be put up for adoption if no one claims it.

[FHandz15]

"That there's FRIED pussycat Clark"

[Res343cue]

Great job to the boys who saved the animal.... but...

Where is treating animals in ANYONES scope of care? After discussing a product that was introduced to the market, my med director said that anyone caught using the product which was made for treating animals, would have their license pulled. We are not vets, so why are we treating animals?

[kentbwj]

I applaud these firefighters for a job well done. Society needs to hear more stories of compassion with all the violence and unrest in the world. These men saw a creature in distress and responded humanely. Unless they were neglecting their fellow citizens-and they weren't-I think it's great. Why would they let the cat die if they could do otherwise?

[JackTee09]

This thread will quickly devolve into a cat hate versus cat love debate. Too bad it can't be moved to off duty discussions. :D

[CaptainGonzo]

Great job to the boys who saved the animal.... but...

Where is treating animals in ANYONES scope of care? After discussing a product that was introduced to the market, my med director said that anyone caught using the product which was made for treating animals, would have their license pulled. We are not vets, so why are we treating animals?

The last time I checked... animals need O2 to survive. The FD will probably get better publicity for saving the cat than they would for anything else... and good PR should be used to it's advantage.

We had a two alarm fire in an apartment building. Guess what "story behind the story" got the most positive reaction and the most space in the newspaper? Rescuing a cat from one of the units!

In another fire, we found two children overcome by smoke and were pronounced DOA at the hospital. The 4 year old girl was found hugging the family's yellow Lab. We removed the body of the dog with the same reverance as we would a human victim... it means a lot to the family.

Your medical director has no compassion whatsoever...

[Res343cue]

The last time I checked... animals need O2 to survive. The FD will probably get better publicity for saving the cat than they would for anything else... and good PR should be used to it's advantage.

We had a two alarm fire in an apartment building. Guess what "story behind the story" got the most positive reaction and the most space in the newspaper? Rescuing a cat from one of the units!

In another fire, we found two children overcome by smoke and were pronounced DOA at the hospital. The 4 year old girl was found hugging the family's yellow Lab. We removed the body of the dog with the same reverance as we would a human victim... it means a lot to the family.

Your medical director has no compassion whatsoever...

Gonz, I'm really playing the devils advocate here. I've played the DA in the other topic in the EMS forums dealing with the animal O2 masks also.

Back in June of this year, we were dispatched to a structure fire, reported to be fully involved at time of the call. Upon arrival, all occupants were out of the house, other then the families 3 dogs, and 2 cats. We did the rescue for the cats, and what the medical director doesn't know, didn't hurt him. We got the dogs out too, but sadly, there was nothing we could do for them. We saved the building too, but it was heavily damaged. Saving the cats meant the world to the home owner, and she's been very greatful since, even though her cats passed away two weeks later after the fire due to what the vet said was probably stress related to the fire and not having their home.

[SSTONER]

Great job to the boys who saved the animal.... but...

Where is treating animals in ANYONES scope of care? After discussing a product that was introduced to the market, my med director said that anyone caught using the product which was made for treating animals, would have their license pulled. We are not vets, so why are we treating animals?

I am fairly new to the EMS world, however, can the med director actually pull your liscence for using animal rescue products on an animal?? Or can he only recommend via the state health liscensing board - here in Arizona that would that would be DHS.

I know that I would try to help any animal that was rescued from a fire etc to the best of my ability.

[Res343cue]

I am fairly new to the EMS world, however, can the med director actually pull your liscence for using animal rescue products on an animal?? Or can he only recommend via the state health liscensing board - here in Arizona that would that would be DHS.

I know that I would try to help any animal that was rescued from a fire etc to the best of my ability.

Well, heres the scenario...

Local service buys these "animal masks" for giving O2 to pets, etc. EMT gives O2 to someones pet, which in all reality is out of his scope of care. Medical Director has the ability to pull your license temporarily upon waiting for a review to be done, and the state can then pull it permanantly.

Just because it's an animal rescue product, doesn't just mean you can use it because you have it. You have to be trained and certified to treat animals, just like a vetrinarian.

[doughesson]

As long as there wasn't a human waiting for treatment,who gives a rip?I hate cats because they don't come when you call them but I don't think any fire victim should be left to their own fate when we have the tools and the talent to do something about it.


Great job to the boys who saved the animal.... but...

Where is treating animals in ANYONES scope of care? After discussing a product that was introduced to the market, my med director said that anyone caught using the product which was made for treating animals, would have their license pulled. We are not vets, so why are we treating animals?

[cozmosis]

[QUOTE=Res343cue]Local service buys these "animal masks" for giving O2 to pets, etc. EMT gives O2 to someones pet, which in all reality is out of his scope of care. Medical Director has the ability to pull your license temporarily upon waiting for a review to be done, and the state can then pull it permanantly.[QUOTE]

Well, I feel better. There are departments with bigger problems than mine.

I'd hate to know I worked for a medical director that went so far as to make a policy against helping all living creatures. If you have the opportunity to help a cat, a dog or whatever... And as long as humans don't need that care more... Then you should treat the animal. Anyone who says otherwise is an idiot. :rolleyes:

Our job is to save lives and property. Resuscitate a pet dog and you've done both at the same time. :D

[Rayr49]

It seems that the animal rescue/treatment gets a lot more coverage in the media than our normal day to day operations.

We responded mutual aid to a house fire a couple of years ago. No one was home when the fire started but a cat and here kittens were in the house.

One kitten perished and the others were rescued. Our chief was giving a kitten some O2 by holding a nasal cannula in front of its face because the kitten was rather letahrgic. A reporter from a local TV station was on scene and got some footage of the nice fireman helping the kitten. That footage got twenty of the thirty seconds of broadcast time.

A few weeks later the chief got a phone call from his sister who lives in another state. She had just seen him on CNN in a segment on animal rescue.

We talked to the owner of the cat about six months after the fire. He said the cat was doing fine except it sometimes seems to "strip a gear" and go charging around the house. (to me that is normal cat behavior)

Stay Safe
IACOJ

[sts060]

Great job to the boys who saved the animal.... but...

Where is treating animals in ANYONES scope of care? After discussing a product that was introduced to the market, my med director said that anyone caught using the product which was made for treating animals, would have their license pulled. We are not vets, so why are we treating animals?Yes, it's totally outside our scope of care. So is helping someone who locked their keys in their car but no kid is in the car. So is giving directions to a lost motorist who pulls into the station. So is etc. etc.

As doughesson said, if there's no humans needing treatment, and no fire to extinguish, what's the problem with helping a cat or a dog? I have both, but even if you don't like animals it's a service to the community. And as far as I'm concerned, using an animal care product on an animal is outside your medical director's scope of authority anyway. He should get a grip, and a heart. And, looking at it in business terms - it's goodwill for us obtained very cheaply.

[LFD2203]

JACKTEE09, I was going there, but, I won't. However, I wouldn't have lost any sleep......................... ................

[Dave1983]

I think that medical director needs to get a grip. :rolleyes:

I know of an incident in my county that they transported a dog that was hit by a car to an animal ER, in an ambulance! :eek: No, not the brightest thing to do, and when "they" found out they were less then pleased. Thats untill the local media got ahold of the story. After the media all but nominated the crew for a Nobel Prize, "they" decided to drop it and left the crew alone. :D :cool: