Cat becomes first to be saved after fire fighters start carrying pet oxygen masks

The masks were donated by a charity

A cat has become the first animal to be revived by firefighters using a specialist pet oxygen mask after it was rescued from a house fire. Two cats were rescued from the fire in Paddington on Friday afternoon, with the London Fire Brigade (LFB) needing to administer oxygen to one of the animals using the specialist kit. The masks have been donated to LFB stations by the not-for-profit organisation Smokey Paws. They come in three sizes and can be used on dogs and cats, and even smaller animals such as a rabbits, snakes and mice. The masks will be carried on fire engines in Battersea, Paddington, Richmond and Hammersmith as part of a pilot scheme. If the trial is successful, the kits will be deployed more widely across London. In the past, firefighters have had to improvise to try and revive rescued animals suffering from smoke inhalation. [caption id="attachment_348046" align="alignnone" width="700"] The kits are made up of three sizes of mask, two rope leads and two sizes of muzzle (London Fire Brigade)[/caption] Station Officer Nathan Beeby was at the scene on Friday, and praised the oxygen masks. He said: "Having something specially designed made so much difference as the mask is properly sealed around the animal's muzzle and all the oxygen is going into their lungs." Dave O'Neill, the Brigade's Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Operational Policy said: "Of course a firefighter's priority is always to save human life, but we know how precious people's pets are to them "We also know owners will put their own lives at risk by trying to return to a burning building to rescue them." Related links:

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