Firefighter Saves Dog With Mouth-To-Nose Resuscitation (VIDEO)

Tragedy struck the house of Kim Carlson and Dwight Borchardt in Wisconsin on Tuesday afternoon, when a fire allegedly started by a faulty box fan caused an estimated $30,000 in damage, The Today Show reported. It also almost claimed the life of the family's 7-year-old dog, Koda.

That is, until firefighter Jamie Giese stepped in. Using a technique that he had "only seen on TV," Jamie was able to revive the unconscious pup by performing mouth-to-nose (or snout) resuscitation.

The firefighter told the Wausau Daily Herald that he found the dog on a rocking chair in the room where the fire started, and carried him outside.

"It was all improvised," he told the paper.

According to Fox News, the rest of the family and their two cats were uninjured from the fire.

The fortunate pooch appeared healthy and extremely loved on TODAY, and as the publication noted, he remains a part of the family thanks to Jesse's actions.

Although there are no clear statistics, the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association suggest that anywhere from 40,000 to 150,000 pets die each year in fires, many from smoke inhalation.

Some organizations are now advocating for the use of pet oxygen masks, designed to help animals after exposure to a fire.

WATCH the lucky pup get rescued:




WATCH The Today Show report:

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Comments

[mike-667]

02:45 AM on 11/24/2011

I posted a link about firefighters having heart attacks

http://scraplord.tumblr.com

[mike-667]

06:30 PM on 11/03/2011

Amazing!!!

http://www.fireandrescuedecals.com

[Hugatreetoday]

08:49 AM on 10/25/2011

I love firefighters. They are heroes by every definition of the word.

[Siren Song]

10:49 PM on 10/23/2011

Bless you, Jesse Giese! We all know firefighters are heroes, but you certainly proved it beyond a doubt with your quick and clever actions. All good wishes to the family, and, of course, Koda.

[DruDo]

01:13 AM on 10/28/2011

Siren-- The organization I mentioned several days ago (you may not remember) who provides life-saving equipment for animals responded to my inquiry about sending the fire dept. in Wausau some literature, at least, just in case they weren't aware there is equipment to help save pet's lives. They were nice enough to respond to my email and informed me that several kits have now been donated! I was so glad to hear that and if my previous post helped do that, (I don't know if it did, but no matter who donated--they're wonderful). I'm just happy it was possible for some to be able to do that.

[Annette Hammond]

07:36 PM on 10/23/2011

Awww,look at that sweet dog.I would have done the same for anyones dog.

[hugatree]

05:09 PM on 10/23/2011

Many fire departments now carry special oxygen equipment to rescue pets. Pet notification stickers are available for doors and windows to let fire fighters know what type of animal (dog, cat, bird) and how many reside inside.

[FarmerBee]

09:31 AM on 10/23/2011

What a great guy. I'd be forever grateful if it was my dog. Some unfeeling people don't realize how important pets are to some folks. My dog is my best friend and I'd be heartbroken without him around.

[floridan56]

11:26 PM on 10/22/2011

People behind such thought as this, give me strength through all the nonsense.

So glad they're all ok. Thank you.

[DruDo]

11:02 PM on 10/22/2011

Many fire departments have pet rescue equipment. I understand that individuals can donate a pet life-saving kit, since many fire departments do not have the funds or simply aren't aware that training and equipment is available to help save an animal's life. I found a web site which provides this service to not only fire departments, but also kits for those who want to have the kits at home. I'm guessing that there are probably a number of organizations who provide the equipment, but I found one in Herndon, VA., called Wag'n Pet Safety Gear, which is very informative. I do not work for them, I have no ties whatsoever--I just thought some may be interested, since our best buddies and companions deserve a chance, too.

[TomMartin]

10:13 PM on 10/22/2011

Maybe the now recommended hands only CPR is appropriate only if the heart has stopped, that could be why they did the mouth-to-snout instead.

[TomMartin]

10:05 PM on 10/22/2011

Isn't hands only CPR supposed to be more effective in all cases? So even for smoke inhalation?

[Kwrohan]

04:45 PM on 10/23/2011

Don't think so - hands only if the heart has stopped. If this dog was trying to breath, as they say in the video, then he had a heart beat he needed oxygen.
My understanding of hands only is it is for heart attack victims.

[knott wrench]

05:15 PM on 10/23/2011

With CPR, you are dealing with the Heart in "Arrest" not beating or not beating effectively. So you are attempting to maintain the patients heart rate artifically till it is restored or not.

In Smoke inhalation, you are dealing with a reduction of Oxygen in the Body, displaced by increases in Carbon Monoxide, Cyanide and other toxic gasses found in a fire environment. In this instance you are trying to overcome the increase in toxic gases by replacing them with oxygen.

In the Mouth to Snout Resuscitation situation, the dog apparently had a pulse, but not a sufficient amount of oxygen in his body to keep breathing and was in Respiratory Arrest which would have led to Cardiac Arrest.

In Human's, Cardiac Arrest in Children is Considered Respiratory Arrest First. In Adults Cardiac Arrest is Considered First, because of older age and events that may have precipated
the Arrest.

Overall, both Arrests are treated together as they are "Interrelated".

[hccharles3]

10:02 PM on 10/22/2011

You can tell that sweet dog Coda is frightened. What an experience for him. This proves how much animals are too precious to be abused. Coda is okay but in need of much love. Thanks to some wonderful firemen, he got some badly needed help.. Give these guys a medal.

[Annika Vecchione]

08:59 PM on 10/22/2011

:D
you go, Jamie! i am glad that dog is okay

[TrevorJohnAdams]

07:16 PM on 10/22/2011

Haha, glad the dog is OK! I had to do this for my sister's little teacup Min-Pin one time after its older brother got into a rough fight with him and he stopped breathing. Luckily he, too, ended up OK, though I couldn't believe that it actually worked! The vet said he might not have made it if I hadn't done so... Funny how the same method works for dogs as it does for humans, though I guess it makes sense.

[jxjl99a]

07:01 PM on 10/22/2011

I saved a white-crested finch with mouth to beak resuscitation once. Found him floating face down in my fish aquarium, got him out, laid him down, blew air down his throat and pumped his chest lightly. And amazingly he came around. His mate was so happy to get him back into the cage with her again. They went to have have many chicks. I swear its true!