IN BRIEF
MERSEYSIDE FIRE
& RESCUE SERVICE
CELEBRATE MORE
PET OXYGEN MASKS
ARRIVING AT WIRRAL
Fire engines at three fire stations in Wirral are now
carrying pet-friendly oxygen masks thanks to generous
donations from animal lovers.
The masks, provided by a charity called Smokey Paws and paid for
by donations, are part of a kit specially tailored for small household
pets and larger animals.
The new kits are being carried on fire engines based at Upton and
Wallasey Community Fire Stations in Wirral. Costing £90 each, the
kits consist of three pet-sized oxygen masks that can be used for a
variety of animals. They also include oxygen tubes, muzzles and a slip
lead in case an animal becomes agitated while being rescued. They
range in size to fit small pets such as hamsters, snakes, dogs and cats
and larger animals such as sheep and horses, and are designed to fit
snugly around the snout of animals to ensure a better flow of oxygen.
Group Manager Rob Pritchard, who has worked closely with Smokey
Paws to help procure the masks for MFRS fire engines, said: “It’s
fantastic to now have pet oxygen masks on appliances at three fire
stations in Wirral. We are incredibly grateful to the people and
organisations who have helped raise money to allow us to boost
our numbers of the Smokey Paws kits. They will vastly improve our
chances of reviving many more animals in Wirral who have suffered
smoke inhalation at fires. Once animals have been rescued they often,
much like humans, require some form of oxygen therapy to assist
in their immediate care and recovery. These masks are specifically
designed to fit the faces of different animals and means we can tailor
our response to the individual animal involved in the incident. Pets
are an enormous part of any family, so we are thrilled that we have
more of this life-saving equipment on fire engines in Wirral. It would
be wonderful if we could eventually have a kit on an appliance at
every station in Merseyside.”
If you would like to find out more about Smokey Paws’ pet life-saving
mission, or if you can help raise funds and awareness in Wirral,
please contact Lynn on 0203 195 3892 / 07340 754 408 or at lynn@
smokeypaws.co.uk
8 wirrallife.com
AUTISM CHAMPION AWARD
FOR THE HIVE
Wirral’s purpose built youth facility, The Hive, has been
recognised as an Autism Champion by a leading charity
dedicated to enhancing the lives of autistic people and
their families.
Autism Together has awarded ‘champion’ status to The Hive in
recognition of its commitment to providing autism friendly services
and ensuring its youth workers and management team have received
autism awareness training. As a result of the awareness training, youth
workers at The Hive are now able to recognise people who are on the
autistic spectrum and adapt their approach accordingly, to ensure
sessions at the Youth Zone are fully inclusive and autism friendly.
According to Autism Together, there are approximately 1 in 100
people in the UK with a diagnosis of autism; many of whom can feel
overwhelmed accessing public places and services, resulting in them
becoming isolated and withdrawn. The Autism Champions scheme
is designed to help tackle this issue by encouraging organisations and
public facilities to become more autism aware. The initiative is one of
a number of campaigns spearheaded by Autism Together, a charity
which started life in 1968 as The Wirral Autistic Society and is now
one of the country’s leading providers of services and support to people
with autism and their families.
Commenting on The Hive’s Autism Champion status, Stuart Barnes,
Chief Executive said, “The Hive Youth Zone is one of the major
providers of activities and support services to young people in the
region with over 6,500 members, a significant number of whom have
autism. Every single member is unique and special and we continually
strive to ensure each one has the best possible experience. Achieving
the Autism Champion status has equipped us with new skills and
knowledge and recognises our commitment to ensuring that there are
no barriers to any young person gaining maximum enjoyment and
benefit from our work, alongside their peers.”
To find out more about the Autism Champion scheme, visit:
http://www.autismtogether.co.uk/become-an-autism-champion/