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Berkshire Red Cross Offers Pet First Aid for Dogs and Cats Program
Pittsfield, MA, March 22, 2004 - The Berkshire County Chapter of the American Red Cross has started a Pet First Aid for Dogs and Cats program thanks to a generous contribution from Fitter Critters, a pet therapy program operating in Lee, MA. Fitter Critters owner Jody Chiquoine has provided a financial donation to start the program in Berkshire County and is also a certified Red Cross instructor and instructor trainer in the program. This program is not a substitute for professional veterinarian care especially in an emergency situation.
The purpose of the program is to teach individuals basic first aid techniques for dogs and cats due to common illness, injury, or a life-threatening condition. It also stresses what to do until professional care can be provided to the ill or injured dog or cat.
Learning objectives include:
- Explain how and when to call for emergency assistance for an injured pet.
- Understand how to find out what is "normal" for their pet.
- Identify signals of breathing emergencies, including choking, and demonstrate how to provide care.
- Identify signals of cardiac arrest and demonstrate how to provide care.
- Identify life-threatening bleeding and demonstrate how bleeding can be controlled.
- Identify signals of various injuries and demonstrate how to care for them.
- Identify signals of sudden illness, including poisoning, seizures, and heat and cold emergencies, and describe how to care for them.
- Describe when and how to move an injured pet.
- Describe components of a good "pet friendly" first aid kit.
The first public course will be held at the Berkshire Red Cross, 480 West Street in Pittsfield from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 17, 2004. The cost of the course is $40.00 and includes a Pet First Aid participant's guide.
The chapter is also sponsoring a Pet First Aid Instructor course at the chapter house from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 22, 2004. The cost of the instructor course will be $50.00 and includes an instructor manual and participant's guide. The goal of the instructor course is to recruit individuals from throughout Berkshire County who will offer the program on a regular basis where they live or work. Enrollment priority will be given to individuals with a background caring for and/or working with pets.
Pre-registration for either course is required as space is limited. A waiting list will be maintained once the courses have been filled. Interested individuals should contact the health and safety department at the Red Cross by calling (413) 442-1506 or 1-800-332-2030.
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