Fire Prevention
- Place at least one smoke detector on every floor of your house. It is safer to have one in every room, but at least ensure that there is one in the hall leading to the sleeping quarters.
- If you have a house with two or more floors, place a smoke detector at the top of the stairs.
- Use smoke detectors with long-life lithium ion batteries, which will last about ten years before they need to be replaced.
- If you heat or cook with oil, natural gas or propane, have at least one carbon monoxide monitor in the house.
- Test every smoke detector and carbon monoxide monitor monthly. The battery may last ten years, but it or some other part may be defective.
- Keep an ABC fire extinguisher near every source of heat that can ignite a fire, such as a stove or oven, a woodstove, a furnace, and a hot water heater if natural gas, propane or heating oil is used. ABC stands for wood, paper and trash (A); grease and liquids, such as fuel oil or gasoline (B); and electrical equipment (C).
- Read the instructions to become familiar with the use of each extinguisher. Check them quarterly to ensure they are still fully charged.
- Talk to your insurance company or broker - some give discounts if you keep fire extinguishers in your house.
- If you burn wood for heat or ambience, have the stovepipe or chimney cleaned annually. Creosote builds up quickly, and creosote fires are a leading source of woodstove-related house fires.
- If your house has more than one floor, or you live above the first floor of an apartment building, keep escape ladders to enable you to climb out the windows and down to safety.
- If you use electric heating, ensure that curtains do not rest on the baseboards.
- Keep all hallways clear of obstacles such as toys, laundry baskets and boxes. A fire in an electrical panel could leave the house without lights. Your escape could be delayed by obstacles, and they may keep you from finding your pets.
- Have an emergency plan and rehearse your escape, including evacuating your pets.
Pet Fire Safety
- Keep your pet's current license and vaccination tags on his or her collar to help with identification in case you become separated. The best way to ensure easy identification is to have your pet micro-chipped.
- Do not keep burning candles or flammable materials at a level where pets can knock them over.
- Pay close attention any time you are burning candles. Dogs do not blister when they burn and take a long time to heal, so it is very important for you to be aware of where they are when you have candles lit.
- Keep electrical cords out of your pet's reach to prevent chewing, which could shock your pet or cause a fire .
- Prepare an emergency kit with important financial and personal information. Include your pet's medical records and food.
- Have a plan for a friend, family member, or boarding kennel to take care of your pet on short notice in case of an emergency.
- Use a Pet Alert rescue sticker to help make firefighters aware of your pets.
Pet Evacuation
- Plan an evacuation route that allows you to check your pets' usual hiding and sleeping places
- If possible, lead your pets to safety on leashes or carry them in crates or cages.
- Cats can be carried in pillow cases to keep them from injuring themselves or others.
- One more reason to obedience train your dog: Trained dogs will be more likely to cooperate during an evacuation.
- Even if a Pet Alert rescue sticker is posted, tell the firefighters that your pets are still inside if you are unable to evacuate them with you.
After a Fire
- Take your pets to a veterinarian as soon as possible to check for burns under their fur or feathers or smoke inhalation, which can happen in a matter or minutes.
- Burn signs to look for in dogs include singed hair that may pull out easily and reddened or grayish skin, depending on the severity of the burn. Even if you can't see anything wrong, you should take your dog to the vet to be checked over thoroughly.
- Use the following information to care for your pet in an emergency on the way to the vet.
Bleeding
- If bleeding doesn't stop within 5 minutes, try to stop the flow by applying direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth, or even your hand. If blood seeps through, apply more cloths on top of the first one; don't try to remove the old cloth.
- If applying pressure won't stop the bleeding, find the nearest pressure point and compress the artery against its underlying bone. Use the flat part of your fingers, not your thumb or finger tips.
- Only use a tourniquet as a last resort to save a life when nothing else is working and be sure to release intermittently, because tourniquets carry a high risk of stopping circulation to the affected part and causing gangrene.
Breathing Difficulty
- If the dog is breathing with difficulty, clear airway and, if necessary, start artificial respiration immediately.
- Do not attempt artificial respiration if poison may be involved.
Artificial Respiration
- Open the dog's mouth, grasp its tongue and pull it well forward, clear of back of throat.
- Wipe away any mucus or blood. Remove any obstruction.
- Remove any collar or restricting item.
- If the animal has fluid in its throat or is a victim of drowning, hold it upside down by its rear legs for 15-30 seconds.
- If dog is still not breathing, start artificial respiration. Close the dog's mouth, place your mouth over the dog's nose and exhale to force air through its nose to the lungs.
- Watch the dog's chest for the lungs to inflate. Remove your mouth, and repeat the cycle about six times a minute.
- Carry on until the dog is breathing by itself or you reach the vet.
Heat burns
- Do not apply butter, grease or any ointment.
- Soak cloth in cold water and hold to burned area.
- Examine the burned area. A superficial burn is painful, reddens the skin and singes the hair, but the hair will not pull out easily. A serious burn is actually less painful because the nerves have been destroyed. The skin may be white, black or brown, and the hair will either be gone completely or will pull out easily.
- Keep the burn covered with a wet dressing covered with thick dry towels.
- Keep the dog lying down, restrained in warm blankets.
- Give fluid as for dehydration, unless the dog is vomiting.
Chemical burns
- Flush the burned area with lots of plain water, especially if it is near the face.
- If the burn is from acid, rinse with a solution of 1 teaspoon baking soda to 1 liter of water.
- If the burn is alkali, or if you are not sure, use plain water only.
Post-Fire Assistance
- Contact the Red Cross for help obtaining food, shelter, clothing, and other necessities after a fire.
- The Animal Rescue League of Boston and the MSPCA can help you provide for your pet after a fire.
- If you become separated from your pet during a fire, contact your local Animal Control for help locating him or her.
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