Elgin Community College notes

A pet first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) noncredit class offered by Elgin Community College teaches pet owners to administer first aid, increasing the chances of a pet's survival before obtaining emergency veterinary care.

The class is offered June 12 or June 21 in Room 112 of the Instruction Center (ICT) on the Main Campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. The class costs $119 and includes a handbook, materials, lunch and, upon successful completion, a two-year certification in pet first aid and CPR. Pets should not be brought to class.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association, 25 percent more pets would survive if just one pet first aid technique was applied before obtaining emergency veterinary care.

"Until you can safely transport the animal to a veterinarian you should be prepared to administer immediate care - bleeding control and management, immobilizing fractures so no further injury is incurred, rescue breathing in the event of drowning, and most important, CPR, in the event of loss of heartbeat," said Paulina Johnson, a certified Pet Tech instructor who teaches the class. "Without this immediate care many pets would not survive the drive to a veterinarian or animal emergency facility."

Johnson, along with certified Pet Tech instructor Tammie Variano, teaches participants to be the first responders in a pet emergency. Class topics include canine and feline CPR, rescue breathing, bleeding and wound management, and snout-to-tail wellness assessment.

A note to participants, first aid training does not replace traditional veterinary care.

To register for course CED 701, call (847) 622-3036. For more information about the course, contact Deb Keisler, ECC professional program manager in community education, at (847) 214-7203.