How much should we really intervene when it comes to saving wildlife?
People are rescuing injured squirrels with CPR and uploading their heroic missions online: when a squirrel got struck by a nearby powerline, a video shows an unidentified man in Colombia giving it CPR until it began to revive, and finally run off. Meanwhile, in the U.S., a student at Central Michigan University rescued a gray squirrel drowning in a campus pond.
CPR does work for many animals, including humans, dogs and squirrels. Squeeze the heart long enough will get blood moving, and keep oxygen flowing to the lungs. But while humans are shaped similarly, dogs, cats and other animals can have a lot of variability in the way their chests are shaped.
If you do plan on attempting to rescue a wild animal, Daniel J. Fletcher, associate professor of emergency and critical care at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine recommends applying pressure from the side rather than straight to breastbone.
People are rescuing injured squirrels with CPR and uploading their heroic missions online: when a squirrel got struck by a nearby powerline, a video shows an unidentified man in Colombia giving it CPR until it began to revive, and finally run off. Meanwhile, in the U.S., a student at Central Michigan University rescued a gray squirrel drowning in a campus pond.
If you do plan on attempting to rescue a wild animal, Daniel J. Fletcher, associate professor of emergency and critical care at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine recommends applying pressure from the side rather than straight to breastbone. Oh, and if you are planning to rescue a pet dog or cat, he still recommends mouth-to-snout resuscitation (there are no official guidelines for squirrels).
