Show The Herald Joiimaf Logan Utah Saturday August 17 2002 — A7 Pet owners learning first-ai-d Va (AP) ALEXANDRIA — In this nation of dog spas and cat health insurance some animal lovers are taking the next step: They’re learning to put mouth to snout to perform CPR on their injured fourlegged friends instead of waiting for the vet A pet first aid class available through the Red Cross was first offered by the Los Angeles chapter five years ago It covers everything from how to take a cat’s or dag’s pulse (it’s easiest near the inner thigh) to resuscitation to making muzzles splinting bro-ken limbs and treating heat techniques for animals “If something were to happen to them could you respond?” said Lourdes del-RValdes a spokeswoman for the Red Cross chapter in Los Angeles Four animal owners recently' showed up on a sunny Saturday morning as the course at the Red Cross office serving this Washington DC' suburb was called to order ' At the urging of instructor Lynne Bettinger students practiced rescue breathing and CPR on cat and dog mannequins with movable limbs bums blown into In many instances the treatment is the same as for ‘ humans with the same injuries For heat bums apply cool water or compresses quickly and cover with a sterile nonstick pad Bmises take cold compresses several times ice daily Sit a for on the nose nose pack bleeds For choking use stomach thrusts — the equivalent of the Heimlich maneuver — to dislodge stuck objects and direct io Unlike human first aid and CPR courses the class isn't available nationally As a result officials can’t say how many of the more than 1000 Red Cross chapters offer the course or how many people have taken it Those who do though get a wide range of lessons on how to help their sick or injured animals — skills that could be crucial in an emergency officials say pressure to cuts should stop any bleeding Then cover with a clean doth In most cases the animal should he taken to the vet or animal hospital for additional treatment Aflcr nearly four hours in class the students emerged with wallet-size- d cards certifying them as capable of administering pet first aid and copies of a reference book The paperback published in 1997 by the American Red Cross and the Humane Society is included in the $35 and chests that inflated when cloth-wrapp- ed course fee or about Nearly two-thir65 million of the 1055 million US households owns a pet up from 56 percent in 1988 according to the American Pet Priiducts Manufactur- -' ers Association That translates into 75 million cats and 68 million dogs Some view the first aid course as another step in the pampering of pels that’s taken place over the past two decades with owners increasingly treating pets like two--' legged members of the family ds c 3 SS 60 Stock Up and Save on Summer Sport & Casual Fashions (DiBO ijOtlD© CteX7 0GDdCMJl©GGxiXl£l OtD NOW $3©9 Young Men's Designer Carpenter Jeans Orig 5950 ! t I I rVGZZJ -- ' ' I ' r '8etotitonvaitt - Bask al store Limited to stock on hand merchandise'is not Included Sorry we cannot accept phone or mail orders on clearance merchandise Jay The Perfect Fit With any Back Open a Dillard’s Express Credit Account and to-Sch- purchasa of ' S50 v or more m ' ' r ' 5 Black & White TV with Radio 20 V A& car adaptor and battery powered AC l ? cnilSHlagin laM ta$1HCttiutlniiN My apply 0a ipprmf and car cords Included In Uuered orpurpts-WM- a t t- v t -- V uppHaatat s f mHsnitfoi kppiMiaaaHiMpiicmahairim " ’4 V- V '4 - "-7- ' J 9 f : ' 'n - -- “-r ' — f -- WawiteBiiia yaw Mop Mendsy-aalurt- null ana SmiBi 1M anS ttMtfcy- 14-- at aS DOM's leeaNana — S Tn rtni DaatfiCiaJSCat'niaAtnitlBanBata nmr tnirg-n- Card tSnita Club t— “— WwnafctwIMaatcaidrtW 7 Vyv i v — and Th PiMWifCaid " ir m the first day you use your new account rV' |