Pet First Aid Instructor saves Meeka

Meeka’s Story

On Saturday, April 19 th , 2014, St. John Ambulance Medical First
Responders, Ryan Smith, Andrew Adams, Rachel De Young and Gabriel
Baylon were on first aid duty at the All About Pets Show. They heard a
distressed women calling out for oxygen for her dog that had fallen off a
chair and was vital signs absent. Ryan, who is a certified Pet First Aid
Instructor, took charge, assessed the situation and began mouth to snout
ventilations. Andrew, Rachel and Gabriel followed Ryan’s instructions
regarding oxygen delivery, heart monitoring, chest compressions and
bystander management. The team worked together to continue life
support while transporting Meeka to a veterinary hospital for further
treatment. Meeka, a 4 year old teacup Pomeranian, survived the stroke
that caused her near death experience due to the quick actions of these
four dedicated Medical Responders who were able to adapt their first aid
skills to save her life.

First Aid is an important tool for taking care of the ones you love. Many of us have taken a first aid course at some point
in our lives for family, school or work related reasons and we have learned some important skills. Your animal
companion is more to you than just a pet; they are a member of your family.

As such, have you considered how to recognize a potentially serious condition, and help them if they are injured?

Good first aid knowledge can help to save your pet’s life, reduce the potential for increased injury and promote fast
recovery. First aid is not a replacement for going to your vet, but handling emergency situations properly right at the
beginning can save you money by recognizing problems early and acting on them quickly.

Pet first aid courses are designed to build an owner’s confidence to respond to an illness or injury situation, administer
the appropriate care, or stabilize and transport a pet to the veterinarian. A good course will include preventive care to
avoid illness and injury, how to use common household items to restrain and transport an injured animal, and some or
all of the following:

  • Pet proofing your home
  • Shock, unconsciousness, vomiting, dehydration and diarrhea
  • Animal fights and bites
  • Internal and external bleeding
  • Wounds and infections
  • Poisons
  • Artificial respiration and airway obstruction
  • Abdominal thrusts for choking
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  • Administering medications
  • Parasites, insect bites and stings
  • Eye, ear and nose injuries
  • Injuries from heat and cold
  • Spinal, bone and joint injuries
  • Porcupine quills
  • Skunk sprays
  • Seizures
  • Delivering puppies or kittens

Attending a course in person allows for hands-on learning with life-sized specialty animal mannequins. Along with
practicing CPR and choking and bandaging, animal mannequins can be used to demonstrate how to adapt common
household items such as jackets, sticks, newspaper, saran wrap, duct tape, over-the-counter drugs, old cell phones, ties,
belts, rope, scarfs, etc. into first aid tools.

Finally, a good first aid course will provide you with a resource manual for handy reference and a specially designed pet
first aid kit.

Consider the newly-developed St. John Ambulance Pet First Aid course. With everything included above, it will be the best
six and a half hours you spend on learning how to keep your pet safe and healthy. Proceeds of St. John Ambulance Pet
First Aid courses are directed to the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program, a charitable service that brings comfort,
joy and companionship to members of the community who are sick, lonely, reside in long-term care and mental health
facilities; are in hospitals, schools and library settings. For more information please call (905) 568-1905 or visit
www.sjapeel.ca.

Quick Links

Find class schedules and registration links below. If you prefer to register by phone, or have questions please call us.

Client Service Hours
Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Phone: 905-568-1905
Email: [email protected]

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First Aid Kits And Supplies

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