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First Aid:
BUSHFIRE SAFETY Joanne Bibby – Fursafe® One year ago, the Australian Bushfire Season was catastrophic – now known as the Black Summer where thousands and thousands of homes were destroyed, millions of vertebrae animals died, millions of hectares burn’t and dozens of people lost their lives. It was a season we do not wish to see again, but sadly there is every likelihood we will. This article is directed at the safety of our dogs when faced with bushfires. The very idea that our dogs could become victims of a bushfire is a devastating thought. So, I ask you, if you live in a bush environment or holiday in one, do you prepare for their safety and early evacuation? FURSAFE® supports the decision to, where able, evacuate early and therefore does not include ‘Stay and Defend’ information in this article.
• Know your local bushfire/wildfire alert levels, for
example: Advice, Watch and Act Warning. If you do not, your dogs are at risk.
• Know your Fire Danger Rating, for example:
Low/Moderate, High, Very High, Severe, Extreme, Catastrophic (Code Red) – the higher the rating, the more dangerous the conditions. When you see or hear the rating for the day you will know if your dogs are at risk.
• If you hear reports of local fires, your dogs are at risk.
Consider this!
• How will your dog/s cope during such a stressful time?
• Will they run off if they sense or smell danger? • Will they be on their own without the ability to
Know your risk!
protect themselves?
• Is your home located in or near a bush setting, near • Relieve themselves from the extreme a parkland, near paddocks or acreages? If so, your dogs are at risk.
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temperatures? or
• Reduce the risk of smoke inhalation?
