Tag Archives: Pet App

National Dog Day: A look at American Red Cross’ pet programs

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By Kathryn Dean, American Red Cross volunteer

Every year on August 26, National Dog Day is recognized in the U.S. and globally as a way to celebrate dogs and the positive impact they have in the lives of people. The American Red Cross celebrates dog ownership and offers many services that support our canine companion friends. Read on to find out more! 

Megan Winans, American Red Cross, and Athena

Pet First Aid App – Would you know what to do if your pet had a medical emergency?  The Red Cross makes it easy with their free Pet First Aid App, available for download in both the Google Play and Apple App Stores, or text “GETPET” to 90999. This user-friendly app covers a wide range of potential emergency scenarios, specifically tailored for your dog (or cat!). From the basics of airway, breathing and circulation checks, to step-by-step CPR and first aid instructions, this app has you covered.  Scenarios include drowning, car accidents, burns, falls, poisoning and much, much more. It also includes an emergency vet locator,  preventative care tips and quizzes to brush up on your safety knowledge.   

Cat and Dog First Aid Course – So you’ve downloaded the Pet First Aid App, but still want to take your knowledge a step further with formal training. That is possible through the Red Cross Cat and Dog First Aid Course. Learn pet CPR and first aid and become certified to provide care in an all online, self-paced course that only takes around 35 minutes to complete. This paid course covers the basics of normal vital signs and what to do in an emergency, including wounds, bleeding, seizures and cardiac arrest. In addition, you will learn preventative care tips to help keep your pet safe. Click HERE to learn more about the course and to register! 

Animal Visitation Program (AVP):  Red Cross volunteers and their certified service dogs work in conjunction with the Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) program to offer canine visitation to both active-duty military members and veterans within the VA medical system or on bases here in Northern Ohio and around the world. Approved therapy dogs provide comfort, love and encouragement to service members who are deployed or away from home. To learn more about volunteering in this capacity, click HERE. 

Disaster Response:  The Red Cross deploys to disasters all over the U.S., from fires, to floods, to hurricanes and more. In addition to relieving human suffering, special teams are assigned to assisting families with any pet needs that may arise, including finding pet friendly shelters, providing access to resources such as food, cages, blankets and vaccines. In Northern Ohio, the Red Cross works in partnership with Faithful Companions, a pet cremation service for pets who unfortunately lost their lives in fires or other disasters, free of charge. 

To keep pets safe and prepare for evacuation during disasters, Megan Winans, a Red Cross employee who serves as Pet Liaison for National Level 4+ Deployments and also serves as the Divisional/Regional Pet Champion, offered these great tips: “I always encourage everyone I know to make sure they have a go bag ready ahead of time for not only themselves and their human family members, but a go bag for their pets too. Items such as extra food, water, medications, bowls, leashes, collars, a cage and copies of important documents are all very helpful to have together in one spot to grab as you go.”  

To learn more about disaster preparedness with pets, click HERE. 

Edited by Glenda Bogar, Red Cross volunteer

Pet CPR? Yeah, there’s an app for that!

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By Ryan Lang, American Red Cross board member and volunteer

As a lifelong pet owner and pet lover, I hope I’m never in a situation where I’d need to perform CPR on my dog. And while I hope it never comes to that, I can find comfort in the fact that if it does, the American Red Cross has a free app that can show me exactly what I need to do.

Amos and Dublin

From recognizing warning signs to the ABCs of pet CPR (airway, breathing, circulation), the Pet First Aid app has you covered. With lifesaving instructions on allergic reactions, bleeding, car accidents, poisoning and more, the app helps you prepare for virtually every scenario you can imagine. It also gives guidance on how to include your pet in your emergency preparedness plans. And after you’ve brushed up on your emergency pet response, put your knowledge to the test with a quiz.

In addition to emergency response information, the Red Cross provides wellness tips for your pet. It offers information on what supplies to have in your home and on hand for your cat or dog. You can upload not only your vet’s information, but also your pet’s information for easy access in case of an emergency.

So in the spirit of National Dog Day that just passed and National Cat Day that’s coming up in October, take a moment and download the free Pet First Aid app. You can find it by going to redcross.org/apps or by searching for ‘American Red Cross’ in app stores. Who knows, you could save your furry friend’s life!

Edited by Glenda Bogar, American Red Cross volunteer

Posted by Ryan Lang, American Red Cross board member and volunteer