Learn how to give pets first aid

Certified Pet Tech instructors Paulina Johnson and Tammie Variano are instructors of a pet first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) noncredit class at Elgin Community College.

The class will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 21 in Room 112 of the Instruction Center (ICT) on the Main Campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.

Johnson and Variano teach 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.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association, 25 percent more pets would survive if just one pet first aid technique was applied prior to 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 Johnson. "Without this immediate care many pets would not survive the drive to a veterinarian or animal emergency facility."

For more information, call Deb Keisler, ECC professional program manager in community education, at (847-) 14-7203. To register for course CED 701, call (847) 622-3036.