House Fires Tragically, many pets do not survive house fires because rescuers do not know they are there. You can avoid this by placing a prominent sign in the window indicating the type and number of pets. Smoke Inhalation in Dogs By: Dr. Anne Marie Manning Smoke inhalation injury is direct damage to the airways and lung tissue caused by exposure to heat, particulate matter in smoke and the gaseous by-products of fire. Smoke inhalation injury can be caused by: Thermal (heat induced) injury to the upper airways Inhalation of particulate matter that settles in upper airways and the lungs Asphyxia (suffocation) since the fire reduces the oxygen content in the air that is breathed Chemical injury, due to chemicals such as carbon monoxide, cyanide, acrolein, hydrogen chloride and aldehydes that are released as gases within the fire Smoke inhalation injury can lead to bronchospasm and bronchoconstriction (spasming and constriction of the airways), carbon monoxide poisoning, pulmonary edema (accumulation of fluid in the lungs), acute respiratory distress (inability to breathe) and pneumonia. Smoke inhalation can be fatal. What to Watch For Bright red mucous membranes (inside of lip and gums) Dry, unproductive cough Raspy breathing sounds Wheezing Increased respiratory rate Increased effort of breathing Irritation of the eyes Discharge from the eyes or nose Collapse Unconsciousness Respiratory distress Respiratory or cardiac arrest
Posted on: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 19:34:48 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015