Project Breathe brings pet saving equipment to Springfield

Staff report

NEW MIDDLETOWN

Springfield Township Fire Department received pet oxygen mask kits to save pets from smoke inhalation.

Invisible Fence of Eastern Ohio donated three kits to the department as part of its Project Breathe program.

According to a news release issued by Springfield Township trustees, “Project Breathe was established with the goal of equipping every fire station in America and Canada with pet oxygen masks.”

The masks help firefighters and emergency medical service staff give oxygen to pets suffering from smoke inhalation when rescued from fires.

Invisible fence donated more than 12,400 masks to fire stations all over the U.S. and Canada.

The news release said although the number of pets that die in fires isn’t a national statistic, an estimated 40,000 to 150,000 die in fires each year – most due to smoke inhalation. The donated masks have saved more than 150 pets.

For more information about Project Breathe visit www.invisiblefence.com/O2.