Safety Information Week: Pet Fire Safety

It's Safety Information Week here in Blogville and all week long there have been/will be posts on very important topics, including our today's extended post on Pet Fire Safety. Be sure to check out our original post HERE to see the full line-up of posts during this very special blog hop to visit to read about vital information for our pet's health and safety from fellow bloggers here in our online community.

We here at the FiveSibes want to once again talk about the importance of Pet Fire Safety. Although we did a post for National Pet Fire Safety Day (July 15), we believe so strongly in Pet Fire Safety, that we chose to talk about it once again and more in depth featuring tips, recommendations, a drawing, a video of a Husky who was burned and rescued from a house fire, and an in-depth heart-to-heart conversation with the Husky's mom and neighbor about the frightening ordeal. The goal of this post is to share vital information that could possibly safe a pet's life...or at the very least, give each family some peace of mind that they have done all they can in preparation for, but hopefully never have to experience, a fire where their pets are.

So many times we all settle into our daily lives with routines that take us from morning until night, weekdays until the weekend. But how many of us have stopped to make an emergency plan not only for human family members, but for our pet family members as well? 
 "...40,000 pets die every year in home fires." ~American Kennel Club
 In case of a fire, you may have an escape route mapped out for your family, but does it include your furry members? A little forethought and pre-planning could help save a life.

Harley is ready!

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), "...40,000 pets die every year in home fires." That's a frightening statistic. So what can we do to reduce that number? First, the AKC has teamed up with ADT Security Systems to designate an annual national Pet Fire Safety Day on July 15 to help bring awareness and hopefully reduce this statistic by offering the following helpful suggestions:


Tips for Helping Prevent Your Pets From Starting Fires 
Courtesy of the AKC

  

*Extinguish open flames: Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace. Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving your home.


* Remove stove knobs: Be sure to remove stove knobs or protect them with covers before leaving the house – a stove or cook top is the number one piece of equipment involved in your pet starting a fire.


* Invest in flameless candles: These candles contain a light bulb rather than an open flame, and take the danger out of your pet knocking over a candle. Cats are notorious for starting fires when their tails turn over lit candles.


* Beware of glass water bowls on wooden decks: Do not leave a glass water bowl for your pet outside on a wooden deck. The sun’s rays when filtered through the glass and water can actually heat up and ignite the wooden deck beneath it. Choose stainless steel or ceramic bowls instead.


* Pet proof the home: Take a walk around your home and look for areas where pets might start fires inadvertently (FiveSibesMom note: And get down to their eye level to see what they would come in contact with when both standing, and if they jump up).



Other Important "To Dos"


* Keep pets near entrances when away from home: When leaving pets home alone, keep them in crates, areas, or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them. (FiveSibesMom note: And be sure to have current safety window clings up on the nearest window or door to where your pets are. Keep current ID tags on your pets' collars, too, in case they become lost or separated from their hu-parents. And keep their leashes nearby).



* Secure young pets: Especially with young puppies, keep them confined away from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from home, such as in crates or behind baby gates in secure areas.


* Practice escape routes with pets: Keep collars and leashes at the ready in case you have to evacuate quickly with your pet or firefighters need to rescue your pet. (FiveSibesMom note: have a designated trusted neighbor or nearby relative to be the emergency contact person in your absence).


* Consider using monitored smoke detection services: As an added layer of protection beyond battery-operated smoke alarms, smoke detectors connected to a monitoring center help save pets who can't escape when left home alone. 



* Affix a pet alert window cling: Write down the number of pets inside your house and attach the static cling to a front window to each room where they are in. This critical information saves rescuers precious time during a fire to locate your pets. Make sure to keep the number of pets listed on them updated.You can fill out a form through the ASPCA HERE to obtain your FREE Pet Safety Pack that includes a window decal alert shown below.


You can also upload a printable fireman pet alert decal from PetPlace.com with directions HERE. These can be printed (ink jet printer) onto paper or onto (preferred) clear decals for windows you can purchase at most office supply stores. See sample downloadable decals below:
 


***Special Safety Pack/Window Decal Giveaway***

The FiveSibes have once again teamed up with the ASPCA to offer one lucky reader a Pet Summer Safety Kit of all their own, including a pet window decal! Simply fill out the Rafflecopter at the end of this post to enter to win your own safety kit!


Does your Fire Department Have a Pet Oxygen Mask?

Over the past few years, more and more fire departments have been equipped with pet oxygen masks. Check with your fire department to see if they have them, or if they need one, have them check out Project Breathe by Invisible Fence HERE and the department's Fire Chief can fill out an application HERE for a possible donation of a kit (which includes a small, medium, and large pet mask and bag). This is dependent upon participation from your local Invisible Fence, but it is certainly worth a phone call that could possibly wind up with your fire department receiving a pet oxygen mask kit! Be sure to tell them the FiveSibes sent you over!

While we all hope and pray a fire never starts in our homes and that our family and furfamily members are never in this type of danger, it can and does happen. On a recent episode of my Dog Works Radio show "The Sibe Vibe," we chatted with the hu-mom and neighbor/rescuer of a Siberian Husky named Nanuk who was trapped in the family home when it caught on fire and was burned. Hearing his mom and neighbor's retelling of what happened brings tears to my eyes...but lucky for Nanuk, he had a happy ending and even was able to go back and meet the heroic firemen who saved his life by administering oxygen to the badly injured Husky. Pictured above is Nanuk after his recuperation with several members of the Los Angeles Fire Department who saved him. And below is the family's video showing Nanuk's journey:



This episode of my "The Sibe Vibe" is a very important show to help bring awareness that this CAN happen to any one and some firsthand tips from a family who lived through it. Please share the player with friends and family to help bring awareness to Pet Fire Safety. You can also follow Nanuk on his Facebook page, Husky Nanuk, Burned in a House Fire to see how well this beautiful boy is now doing and to see all of his amazing photos! Below is the player featuring my interview with Nanuk's family:


Discover Pets Internet Radio with Dog Works Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio with Dog Works Radio Shows on BlogTalkRadio
 

 Thank you for stopping by, and be sure to check out the other posts during this week's Safety Information Week. You can see the full itinerary and links to all the informative posts from fellow bloggers HERE.

And above all, let's be safe out there!


A personal "thank you" to all the brave firefighters and emergency response teams who bravely put their life on the line every single day to ensure the safety of others. And also a heartfelt thanks to my future son-in-law, Kyle, who is a lieutenant with a volunteer Fire Department here in our county for all his dedication, insight, and for being part of this blog post along with his Husky love, our girl Bandit, who loves him dearly!


***GIVEAWAY UPDATE***

Congratulations to Ashlee H.! 
Ashlee, please contact us via Email at FiveSibes(at)gmail(dot)com to give us your "doghouse" address so we can have the ASPCA send their Safety Kit sent to you!
Enter Our ASPCA Summer Pet Safety Kit Giveaway Here: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to visit these other Pet Safety Week blogs!

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Comments

  1. GREAT POST ! I just ordered my ASPCA fire stickers for da window. It's been on Mom's to do list for a while and she finally did it. Thanks for all da pawsome info and I really loved Bandit's pic wiff Lt. Kyle.
    Wags,
    Ranger

    ReplyDelete
  2. GREAT POST!!!! I did a post on Fire Safety in July as well but I had not heard of Nanuk. OMD...that video made us tear up to see the whole community come together for Nanuk. An amazing story and one that surely hits home...I hope everyone keeps Fire Safety a priority at their home.
    Oz

    ReplyDelete
  3. We have our sticker in our window
    Lily & Edward

    ReplyDelete
  4. OMD OMD 40 THOUSAND a year??? That is really astounding... and SCARY and very very SAD.
    THIS is an amazing post. We love it all. EXCELLENT advice. Advice that needs to be taken SERIOUSLY.
    THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS. BRAVO

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have my fire sticker on the front door at eye level. Everybody knows I am in the house. You have given us such great information. And yes my firehouse has a pet oxygen mask!
    Sweet William The Scot

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great post! We have a fire sticker on our garage, so important! Thanks for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is such an amazing post, I would love a fire safety pack, it is something that most people wouldnt even think about, we have our escape route planned and need to get a window fire sticker to tell those nice fireman peeps that it's only me inside my home, Mum says it's her worst fear to have me be alone in a fire, it makes her cry just thinking of it! What a wonderful story about the fireman giving oxygen to the dog! So sweet! Love, Licks and Tummy Tickles from your Puggy Friend Frank XxxxxxxxX

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow that is really great information!. I am proud to say that we do have the sticker on the window and Mommy does do some of the things you mentioned. We did learn so much more and thank you. This so impawtant!

    Thank you and nose licks for all of you!Loves Sasha

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you so much for a very helpful post. We all hope that a home fire is something we never have to face. Here in Florida quite a few homes are hit by lightning during the stormy summer season and fires are started. It's gotten to the point that I find myself saying a little prayer to watch over my dogs every time I have to leave the house.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great stuffs,hope many read this and take better care in preventing fires and pet saving. We gots out ASPC door stick for the firefighters!

    Thanks for being a part of Safety Week and bringing this valuable infor to Blogville!

    Top Cop Bites

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hello Five Sibes! What an amazing post for fire safety. You had several ideas that I will add to my safety check list. The video of Nanuk made me cry, but in a good way. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  12. WOW! What a heavy heavy post. I teared up through the whole video. I am SO happy for Nanuk! And his family, and I just love seeing people come together in a time of great need. Thanks you for this eye opening post about fire safety.
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

    ReplyDelete
  13. This was a wonderful post - we are still making the rounds of safety posts and this one was excellent. the video made us a little teary!. We would love to have one of the safety packs - . Mom worries when we are home alone.
    hugs
    Mr Bailey, Hazel & Greta

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is great info. I am a former vol. firefighter as well as a full time EMT. It is always wonderful to see people taking the time to keep there fur babies safe and sound as much as other adults and children. I am the proud owner of 8 month of siberian husky names Mia and a great rescue named Carly. Thank you for the great safety information.

    Xoxo Mikka Crabtree.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi, nice share about pet fire safety. I have some pets in my house and I dont want them get hurt by fire too.

    ReplyDelete

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