POM Project distributes POMs to Sebec FD

GUILFORD — On Saturday, Feb. 2, Fresh Air Dogs hosted the third annual First Aid & CPR Course for Cats and Dogs and, for the first time, also offered an American Heart Association-Heartsaver First Aid, CPR/AED Certification Course (applicable to adults, children and infants). Nine students attended the training; several registered through Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative.

SAVING PETS’ LIVES — During the annual First Aid & CPR Course for Cats and Dogs at Fresh Air Dogs in Guilford, Sebec Fire Chief Ken Kelley, right, was presented with a pair of pet oxygen masks (POM) for the department. Pictured with Kelley is Maine POM Project founder Bobby Silcott, left, and Carol Morin, a Sebec resident and employee of Fresh Air Dogs.

The instructor for these courses Bobby Silcott, animal control officer for several towns in western Maine, founded the non-profit Maine POM Project in May 2009. Proceeds from these courses are used to purchase pet oxygen mask (POM) kits for fire/rescues all over Maine. Veterinarians have used oxygen masks designed especially for animals for years; now these life-saving devices are available to emergency responders.

Nearly all fire fighters have seen people try to rush back into a burning building to save their pets, and most understand that pets are indeed beloved family members. Far too many pets die each year of smoke asphyxiation. While firemen attempt to get pets safely out of burning structures, they are not able to revive them unless they have the proper equipment — pet oxygen masks. These specially-designed animal masks can be used both on conscious pets that have suffered from smoke inhalation and pets that need to be resuscitated after losing consciousness from exposure to the dangerous toxic fumes.

In speaking with Fire Chief Ken Kelley, Carol Morin of Sebec and an employee of Fresh Air Dogs, learned that the town of Sebec did not have any of these life-saving devices. Chief Kelley dropped by Fresh Air Dogs during the training and Silcott presented him with two POM kits for his department.

If you know of a fire/rescue in Maine that needs POMs, contact Silcott at 647-1112. If you would like to be on the list for the next First Aid/CPR Course (for pets and/or people) held at Fresh Air Dogs in Guilford, call Cynthia Scott at 564-2604.