Local Veterinary Hospital offers domestic animal resuscitation training

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2008

For more information:
Rob Stumpf, Battalion Chief of Training, Fire Department, City of Bloomington, 349-3896
Danny Lopez, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-CITY, lopezd@bloomington.in.gov

Bloomington, IN - The City of Bloomington Fire Department (BFD) will host Domestic Animal Resuscitation training classes for City firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency medical technicians on Dec. 16, 17 and 18.

College Mall Veterinary Hospital will supervise the training, and more than 100 officers are expected to attend. Sessions will be held both at the City of Bloomington Fire Station on Franklin Road as well as at the City's Small Arms Training Facility, which opened officially on September 30. The training will focus on safety precautions that benefit both rescuers and animals, and the entire seminar is being provided at no cost to the City.

BFD Battalion Chief of Training Rob Stumpf said the training exercises provide valuable experience to service officers.

"The training and rescue kits will be used for animals overcome by smoke inhalation," Stumpf said. "Firefighters will now have the proper equipment and training to resuscitate pets, and we can't thank College Mall Veterinary Hospital enough for their willingness to work with us."

City fire engines and fire trucks have been outfitted with rescue kits, which include a bag-valve-mask for providing respirations, masks for both cats and dogs, and a nylon "cat sack" to prevent injury to the rescuer.

For more information on the Domestic Animal Resuscitation training classes, please contact Stumpf at 349-3896.

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