They have first aid and CPR courses for every member of your family, so why exclude your best friend?
The Red Cross is now offering a course titled “Pet First Aid” designed to help you be prepared for various emergency care procedures for your cat or dog that may occur at the house, in the neighborhood or traveling.
Their four-hour course teaches you how to:
• Recognize an emergency;
• Administer certain medications;
• Perform CPR and first aid;
• Treat common problems and emergencies that require immediate attention;
• Find a pulse;
• Check a conscious or unconscious pet;
• Rescue breathing;
• And how to treat other pet health problems such as choking, shock, pad wounds, abrasions, cuts, tears, bleeding, eye and ear injuries, fractures, broken bones and splinting, bites, burns, heat stroke, hypothermia, poisoning, and you’ll learn what to stock in your pet first aid kit.
The course costs $50 per student and includes a course manual and DVD for you to take home so that you will always have a reference book, in case you need one.
Additionally, your pet first aid certification will never expire.
A few items to make sure that you have when traveling or camping with your pet are:
• Your pet first aid kit and book (available through the Red Cross);
• Liquid dish soap and disinfectant;
• Disposable garbage bags or litter trays (aluminum roast pans work well) for clean-up;
• An extra harness and leash;
• Photocopies of medical records;
• A waterproof container with a two-week supply of any medicine that your pet requires;
• A pet blanket;
• Recent photos of your pets in case you are separated.
Of course there are the general items such as food, food and water dishes, toys, a yard stake for dogs, and anything else that your cat or dog would need.
“Pet First Aid” is offered once a month at their Central Denver headquarters, at 444 Sherman St., and it always reaches capacity.
The Mile High Chapter of the Red Cross also offers a Full-Service Class Program, which provides you with the flexibility that you need to get a group of people trained easily and conveniently at your location.
This is offered seven days a week at a time convenient for you.
The minimum amount of people necessary for this type of course is eight people, and it is $60 per person for both dog and cat training (four hours), or $45 per person for dog or cat training (three hours).
Your pet depends on you for his or her well-being, so it’s time that you’re prepared for it.
Don’t forget to get your first aid, CPR and AED training for your human best friends either!
For more information, or to sign up for a class, visit the Mile High Chapter’s Web site at www.denver-redcross.org, or call them at 303-722-7474.
