Firefighters Rescue Cat, Spur Donations of CPR Kits for Four-Legged Friends
News coverage of a house fire in Olympia recently went viral. The video shows Columbia firefighters battling a raging house fire in nearly 100-degree weather. After the conflagration was doused, firefighters combed through the wreckage looking for survivors; that was when they found Soldier, the homeowner’s gray and white tabby cat.
Solider was unresponsive, but four firefighters worked to save the animal in full gear despite the excessive heat. They administered oxygen via a kit called Wag’N 02 Fur Life and performed CPR-like chest compressions until Soldier came around. Mary Ellen Tobias saw the footage on the news and commented, “It showed him
[Soldier] waking up and one of the firemen pouring water into his hand for him to drink out of, and I went to pieces.”
A community reacts
Ms. Tobias wasn’t the only one moved by the heartwarming footage. She and her best friend, Nena Sinclair, went to work raising money from friends, family and local businesses to help equip more fire stations with the Wag’N 02 Fur Life kits. So far, they have purchased 12 units for the Columbia Fire Department. They are continuing their efforts to equip every fire department in the state with the life-saving devices.
Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins told WISTV10, “To go out and make a save, it really drives something home with the firefighters, and some firefighters got pets themselves, they’ve got children. So any time you make some kind of save, that’s what the job is all about. They get very emotional when they do make that kind of save.”
Losing a pet is devastating to a family. There are steps that you can take to prevent fires in your own home, including regularly changing the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. However, when accidents happen, it’s best to be prepared. Make sure you have a fire escape plan for your family that includes the pets, and do a head count every time. This helps you to alert first responders more quickly if a family member is missing during an actual emergency.
In addition, you can donate a Wag’N 02 Fur Life kit to the fire department of your choice. The donation can be in your name or that of your own pet. We encourage any effort to promote the safety of you and your loved ones; donate today to save a life.
Dealing with the insurance company after a devastating accident can be confusing, difficult and emotionally draining. You don’t have to do it alone. Our experienced South Carolina personal injury attorneys can help you in your time of need. Contact McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, for a free consultation today.
Randy is the former President of the South Carolina Association for Justice. He has been certified by the American Board of Professional Liability as a specialist in Medical Malpractice Law which is recognized by the South Carolina Bar. Randy has also been awarded the distinction of being a “Super Lawyer” 10 times in the last decade. He has over 25 years of experience helping injured people fight back against corporations, hospitals and wrong-doers.
Read more about S. Randall Hood