2008-03-11 11:57:31
Mon Mar 10, 7:36 PM ET
A firefighter performed CPR on a dog, saving its life after responding to a
mobile home fire. When firefighters arrived at the scene Friday, a resident of
the house approached firefighter Stephen "Odie" Odom and told him two dogs were
trapped inside the burning house.
Odom put on his air pack and headed for the room where the two small dogs were
kept.
After searching through a smoke-filled bedroom, Odom located the two terrier
dogs in carriers underneath some blankets and removed them from the burning
home.
When Odom removed one of the dogs from the carrier, he noticed it was not
breathing and his tongue was hanging out. The firefighter removed his face mask
and placed the dog's head inside so the oxygen could blow in its face.
When this didn't work, Odom began performing CPR on the dog by "cupping my
hands around the dog's snout and blowing until I could feel his chest expand,"
he said.
"I then did chest compressions similar to that of infant CPR. After
approximately one minute of doggie CPR, I noticed the dog trying to breathe on
its own."
Five minutes later the dog began looking around and was given to the owner of
the house, Linda Lewis. An oxygen tank was left with the pup.
Fire Prevention Officer Curt Meachum said he is glad the dog's life was spared.
"We do not know the dog's name, but we could just call it 'Lucky,'" Meachum
said.