Toronto Fire Services - Responding To Animals In Hot/Cold Vehicles PDF

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE RESPONDING TO ANIMALS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT UNATTENDED IN A HOT OR COLD MOTOR VEHICLE Date Issued: July 25, 2023 Rescinds: N/A Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-ANIM PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services (TFS) personnel with a guideline for re...

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE RESPONDING TO ANIMALS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT UNATTENDED IN A HOT OR COLD MOTOR VEHICLE Date Issued: July 25, 2023 Rescinds: N/A Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-ANIM PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services (TFS) personnel with a guideline for responding to incidents where an animal has been left unattended in a hot or cold motor vehicle. Incident conditions may vary, which will dictate your actions, in accordance with TFS guidelines, policies, and procedures. RESPONSIBILITY All TFS personnel are responsible for understanding and following TFS Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG’s). All TFS personnel are responsible for understanding and following TFS SOGs during Emergency Incident operations. The Incident Commander (IC) is responsible for the development of an Incident Action Plan (IAP) along with the safe, efficient, and effective management of the emergency incident, ensuring all guidelines are followed by personnel on scene. GUIDELINES 1. General Animals left unattended in hot or cold motor vehicles are at risk of serious illness and possibly death. Unlike humans, animals have a limited capacity to deal with heat. They can become overwhelmed leading to heat stroke and even death. In cold weather, motor vehicles can hold in the cold, acting like refrigerators. This can cause the animal to get frostbite, hypothermia, or freeze to death. As leaving an animal in a hot or cold motor vehicle has the potential to be life- threatening, it is considered an emergency that requires Emergency Services. The most dramatic rise in temperature occurs in the first 10 to 20 minutes that a vehicle is idle. A motor vehicles interior temperature continues to rise even when a window is opened slightly. File Code: G-ANIM Page 1 of 4  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE 2. Authority The Ministry of the Solicitor General directs the public to call 911 if they see an animal left unattended in a hot or cold motor vehicle and are concerned the animal is in immediate danger. The public is advised not to attempt to enter a motor vehicle in these situations. The Fire Protection and Prevention Act (FPPA) provides TFS crews the authority to enter motor vehicles to rescue and remove animals who are in distress. TFS crews shall use professional judgement in cases where distress is difficult to assess or may not be immediately apparent, when determining whether to remove an animal from a motor vehicle. TFS crews are reminded to take a progressive approach when responding to these incidents, for example, by trying to contact the motor vehicle owner before proceeding with removal of the animal. 3. Safety Ensure to always wear the appropriate TFS issued Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) when responding to these incidents. Identify possible aggressive behaviours: (a) Growling, hissing, barking, shrieking (b) Exposing teeth and claws To help ensure the safety and welfare of the animal and TFS crews when handling an animal during removal, consider the following: (a) Wear PPE (i.e., gloves to prevent injury from bites). (b) Approach the animal calmly, making gentle movements. (c) Speak to the animal with a soft, quiet, calm tone. (d) Extend a hand for the animal to sniff. (e) Avoid direct eye contact. (f) Do not stand directly over the animal. (g) Mitigate the chances for the animal bolting or running away (strategically place personnel around the scene, create only one opening to the motor vehicle). If breaking the window of the motor vehicle is necessary for the rescue and removal of the animal, always break the window furthest away from the animal to avoid injuries to the animal with the glass shards. File Code: G-ANIM Page 2 of 4  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE 4. Assessing the Condition of the Animal There are key signs of animal distress in a hot motor vehicle that TFS crews should look for: (a) Excessive panting (b) Increased drooling (c) Vomiting (d) Anxious or dazed look (e) Collapse (f) Weakness (g) Seizure (h) Listlessness Once the animal has been safely removed from the vehicle, try to do the following to relieve distress and prevent heat stroke: (a) Take the animal away from a sunny or hot area to a cooler or shaded area. (b) Try to lower the animal’s body temperature with cool, not cold, water and a damp cloth. (c) Provide drinking water and see if the animal is able or willing to drink. NOTE: DO NOT force the animal to drink or try to administer water to the animal. (d) Use an oxygen mask to provide oxygen to the animal if necessary. There are key signs of animal distress and possible hypothermia in a cold motor vehicle that TFS crews should look for: (a) Shivering (b) Rapid breathing or very slow breathing (c) Increased urination (d) Standing hair (goosebumps) (e) Listlessness (f) Pale gums, nose, ears, paws, or tail Once the animal has been safely removed from the vehicle, try to do the following to relieve distress and prevent hypothermia and frostbite: (a) Wrap the animal in a warm blanket and move them to a warmer area. (b) Do not submerge the animal in warm water as this could shock their body. An animal suffering from heat stroke, or at risk of hypothermia or frostbite, should be assessed by a veterinarian immediately. File Code: G-ANIM Page 3 of 4  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE Should an animal be removed from a motor vehicle, the TFS Company Officer can contact provincial animal welfare inspectors, Toronto Police Service, and/or municipal animal services for assistance (i.e., obtaining veterinary care). ATTACHMENT(S) N/A RELATED SOGS File Code: G-ANIM Page 4 of 4