First responders can now assist with hurt dogs and cats

June 2, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

COLUMBUS

Emergency responders will soon be able to treat pets at accident scenes, under legislation signed into law Tuesday by Gov. John Kasich.

Also, a day in February will be designated in honor of Annie Glenn for her efforts to draw attention to communications disorders, and people will be able to break into cars to save children or animals at risk during hot weather.

Those were among law changes finalized by the governor, with signatures added behind closed doors and without comment to a dozen bills that will take effect in about three months.

Senate Bill 187 authorizes first-responders, emergency medical technicians and firefighters to assist with injured dogs and cats, though it prohibits those responders from administering drugs to the animals without first consulting a licensed veterinarian.

Treatments covered by the bill include “opening and manually maintaining an airway,” “giving mouth-to-snout or mouth-to-barrier ventilation,” controlling bleeding, immobilizing broken bones and bandaging wounds, according to an analysis by the state’s Legislative Service Commission.

The bill will not allow residents to call 9-1-1 seeking emergency treatment for injured pets, but paramedics could provide assistance if already on the scene of fires or other emergencies.

House Bill 431, meanwhile, designates Feb. 17 as Annie Glenn Communications Disorders Awareness Day, in honor of the wife of astronaut and former U.S. Sen. John Glenn.

Annie Glenn battled a severe stuttering problem but completed an intensive program at Hollins College in Virginia and “now speaks freely and gives speeches at public events,” according to LSC. She serves on the National Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Advisory Council of the National Institutes of Health and is a member of the Central Ohio Speech and Hearing Association’s advisory panel.

SB 215 grants civil immunity from any damage caused during the forcible entry into a vehicle to remove an animal or minor, as long as the individuals involved determine vehicles are locked and there’s no other way in and occupants are in danger. They also would have to try to call law enforcement or emergency responders first and remain with minors or animals at a safe location until those responders arrive at the scene, among other requirements.

Other bills signed into law included:

SB 188, designating April as Genocide Awareness Month, marking the time in 1945 when the world became aware of the full extent of the Holocaust and the Nazi killing of millions of Jewish people.

HB 37, which will allow higher alcohol content in beer, paving the way for craft brewers and others to offer more potent products in the state.

HB 116, which, among other provisions, will allow pharmacists to synchronize multiple prescriptions used to treat chronic conditions on the same date each month.

HB 219, which designates January as Thyroid Health Awareness Month.

HB 240, which makes a number of changes to state laws related to coroners, including allowing county commissioners to contract for related services with another county’s coroner and requiring coroners to “deliver a deceased person’s firearm” to the police chief or sheriff where the body is found, with a procedure for relatives to request the firearm’s return.

HB 352, which designates April as Osteopathic Medicine Recognition Month.