Calgary fire and police respond to multiple animal rescue calls
By noon today, Calgary fire crews and police officers had responded to over half a dozen 9-1-1 calls for dogs left in hot cars. Two of the calls to 9-1-1 also involved children accidentally locked in vehicles, one for close to 30 minutes. Firefighters successfully unlocked both vehicles to rescue the two children who appeared to be in good health.
First responders want to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable summer, and offer the following tips to help prevent risky situations:
- Never leave a child alone in a vehicle.
- Call 9-1-1 immediately if you see a child alone in a hot car. If they are in distress, get them out as soon as possible. The longer you wait to contact emergency responders, the higher the risk that the situation could become a medical emergency.
- Always check the front and back seats of the car before you lock it and leave.
- When your vehicle is not in use, be sure to lock it so that children can’t get in without your knowledge
When fire crews arrived at the various animal rescue incidents today, some of the dogs showed visible signs of distress. Firefighters with the assistance of CPS, located the owners and advised them on the appropriate treatment of their pets.
Leaving your pet in the car on a hot day can have serious consequences including:
- Organ Failure
- Shock
- Death
Temperatures can rise to dangerous levels in as little as ten minutes and having partially open windows does not effectively lower the vehicle's interior temperature.
If you see an animal in distress, call 9-1-1.
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