Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service celebrate more pet oxygen masks arriving at Sefton Stations

FIRE engines at 3 Fire Stations in Sefton 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.

Following an initial trial of 6 masks rolled out to:- Formby, Croxteth, Toxteth, Birkenhead, St Helens and Huyton Community Fire Stations, in September 2017, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) has now swelled its numbers of Smokey Paws masks to 14 in total.

The new kits are being carried on fire engines based at Southport and Bootle and Netherton Community Fire Stations in Sefton, as well as at Speke, Upton, Old Swan, Eccleston Kirkdale and Wallasey Community Fire Stations. It means that every borough in Merseyside has a pet friendly oxygen mask on at least 1 appliance. The kit formerly donated to Huyton Community Fire Station has been transferred to the new Prescot Community Fire and Police Station.

Costing ₤90 each, the kits consist of 3 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 3 community fire Stations in Sefton. 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 across Sefton 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 are have more of this life saving equipment on fire engines across Sefton. It would be wonderful if we could eventually have a kit on an appliance at every Station in Merseyside."

Smokey Paws is a not for profit organisation that provides the animal friendly 1st aid masks to Fire Services across the UK and relies on donations and fundraising from individuals and organisations.

With the masks now on appliances based at 3 Fire Stations, in Sefton, Smokey Paws is hoping to get this equipment in place at all Stations across Merseyside.

Lynn Carberry, co-founder of Smokey Paws, said:- "It is fantastic that Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has received 2 more kits for its Sefton Stations and that these will be used to ensure pets' lives are saved across the borough. The masks we provide are specifically shaped to fit animals' snouts properly when administering oxygen. Up until now, many Fire Services have been using human masks when treating animals which aren't shaped effectively enough; our pet masks ensure as much oxygen can be administered as possible to the animal or pet in need.  Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service need a lot more of our pet life-saving masks and we would love to hear from any members of the public, local businesses and community groups within the Sefton area who can help us raise funds to roll out the masks across 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 the Sefton, please contact Lynn on:- 0203 195 3892 / 07340 754 408 or at send them an email. Further information can also be found at:- SmokeyPaws.Co.UK and on Facebook.

Barnstondale Centre visitors going places thanks to Lookers Vauxhall

VISITORS to Barnstondale Activity Centre are set for some exciting trips this year, thanks to Lookers Vauxhall Birkenhead, which has provided the charity with the use of a 17 seater minibus free of charge throughout 2018.

The loan is part of the national motor retailer's efforts to support local community projects in the area and the wider UK, with the centre now looking to raise enough funds to buy the nearly new vehicle at a reduced cost by the end of the year.

Barnstondale Centre is a youth activity centre situated in the rural heart of the Wirral, Merseyside. Set in 15 acres of natural woodland and countryside, it welcomes day visitors and residential guests to enjoy its many sports and recreation facilities.

The inclusive centre, which includes log cabins for overnight stay, has become a vital resource for the local community, providing outdoor activities and opportunities for all ages and abilities, as well as plenty of space for socialising. It also provides conference facilities for local business and organisations.

Use of the new minibus will enable centre staff to take its young visitors further afield to take part in adventurous activities such as water sports.

Martin Benbow, General Manager at Lookers Vauxhall Birkenhead, said:- "We are happy to be able to continue the good work of the Lookers group as it continues to forge strong relationships within the local community and make a real difference to people's lives. We were 1st made aware of the fantastic work Barnstondale does through Network Q's ongoing support for the charity and are delighted to provide this minibus to support the charity's adventures."

Heidi Hughes, Business Development Director at Barnstondale, said:- "We are so grateful to Lookers for providing us with this minibus. Not only do we get to use the minibus free of charge for 12 months, but we also get to buy it for a fraction of its list price at the end of the year. We will be starting fundraising to buy the vehicle straightaway, so anyone interested in helping us reach our target of ₤13,000 or finding out more about the work Barnstondale does, should give us a call on:- 0151 648 1412 or visit the website."