Madison Fire and Rescue in Madison, NH now has two sets of Pet Oxygen Masks (POM) thanks to Animal Rescue League of NH-North volunteer and Silver Lake resident Charlotte Emmel. She heard about the POM project happening in Maine on the radio and decided she wanted her neighborhood fire department to have the masks on their rescue vehicles. “She contacted me in August and we started talking about the idea” said Madison Fire Chief Rick Judkins. “We have been working on the project since then, and now we are equipped with two sets that include a small, medium and large mask in each set.”
Emmel donated both sets to the Fire and Rescue, and she encourages other fire and rescue units in New Hampshire to consider purchasing the masks as well. Better yet, find someone in the community willing to donate them.
Judkins commented pets have lost their lives in fires in Madison in the past, and he believes the masks are necessary equipment to have on hand for the future.
Pet Oxygen Masks can resuscitate animals suffering from smoke inhalation and can be used on animals before or after they lose consciousness as a result of exposure to smoke or toxic fumes created in a fire.
Emmel, a long-time animal lover and volunteer at the Conway shelter commented, “I hope my donation inspires others to donate to their local Fire/EMS and Police Departments for the purchase of these live-saving masks.” The Madison masks were purchased from Wag’N Enterprises.

Photo caption: From left to right; EMT Captain David Aibel, Fire Chief Rick Judkins, ARLNH-N volunteer Charlotte Emmel with mask model Kiko and Conway shelter directors Virginia Moore and Tiffany Barrow-Rogers.