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Could you help your pet in an emergency?
YOUR dog has
cut his leg and the wound is bleeding. What do you do?
Firstly, don’t panic. But if, like many other pet owners you are not
sure what to do next then read on, as help is at hand. The
charity for pets in need of vets has published a free First Aid
leaflet so owners can learn basic pet first aid in case of an
emergency.
The handy leaflet offers practical advice on what to do in a number
of emergency situations, such as how to deal with burns,
electrocution, foreign bodies and broken bones. However, PDSA
stresses that the First Aid leaflet is only designed as guidance for
pet owners, and veterinary advice should always be sought as soon as
possible for any sick or injured pet.
PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Elaine Pendlebury, comments:-
“The run up to Christmas can be a particularly dangerous time for
pets. PDSA vets see many emergency cases during the festive period,
so there’s never been a better time to familiarise yourself with
some basic pet first aid, just in case your pet needs your help.
If a pet emergency does arise, and the owner has read the PDSA First
Aid leaflet, they’ll be better prepared.”
PDSA’s top 5 first aid tips:-
1. Life threatening emergencies need speedy action but don’t let
heroism interfere with common sense.
2. Keep a pet first aid kit at home and take one with you when
travelling with your pet.
3. Always call your vet for advice in an emergency.
4. Try to reduce the risk of any accidents by minimising hazards to
your pet both inside and outside the home.
5. Make sure all the family knows how to contact a vet in an
emergency.
The First Aid leaflet is one of a range of free Responsible Pet Care
leaflets from PDSA. The full range of leaflets which also includes
topics such as Diet and Nutrition, Neutering and Dental Care, are
available from all PDSA PetAid hospitals and shops, online at
www.pdsa.org.uk or by calling 0800 917 2509.
PDSA cares for the pets of those unable to afford veterinary fees by
providing free veterinary care to their sick and injured pets. More
information on PDSA PetAid services is available by calling
freephone 0800 731 2502.
YOUTH HOMELESSNESS PLANS A GOOD 1ST STEP
CLARE Tickell,
Chief Executive of NCH says:- “There is no question that every
child and young person must have a safe and stable home. The risks
that homeless young people face can be unimaginable. Government
plans to tackle youth homelessness and stop bed and breakfast
accommodation (B&Bs) for 16 and 17 year olds are a good first step
but wider measures need to be considered.
First, the Government must recognise the importance of working with
families to prevent children and young people being taken into care
or ending up on the streets. NCH works with families who are at the
end of their tether and whose children are about to be put into care
– crisis intervention can keep these families together and turn
lives around. Secondly, stopping the use of B&Bs must be extended to
include care leavers of all ages – NCH has been calling for an end
to the use of B&BS for care leavers and while many local authorities
have stopped, until the practice ends, vulnerable young people will
remain at risk.” |
MORE PODS TO HELP FILL TECHNOLOGY GAP
MORE
information kiosks are to be installed around the city in continuing
efforts to ensure more people have access to council services.
A soon-to-be-published survey on the on street/internal 'pods',
will reveal that 60% of those consulted said they had no computer at
home and their only internet access came through the kiosks.
The first 6 pods landed on Liverpool's streets in 2004 and have
proved so successful that there are now 39 across the city. The
project has also been shortlisted for several prestigious national
awards. The programme, in partnership with BT, will now be
completed with a further 12 installations and work will begin before
the end of the year, set to be completed by April 2007.
Since their introduction the kiosks have transformed Liverpool's
streets, giving people on-the-doorstep access to a huge range of
council services, Capital of Culture events, sport, tourism and jobs
as well as helping to propel Liverpool into the premier league of
tourist-friendly European cities. The pods have opened up a
whole new 'e-world' for residents and visitors. People
wanting to contact friends and relatives in the UK or overseas are
able to use the pods to send free e-mails, text messages, photomail
and even picture postcards.
Each hi-tech pod allows people to contact the council, on-line,
round-the-clock. They can report a fault, search their local
library's catalogue, make an appointment at a One Stop Shop, or find
out who their local councillor is.
Richard Marbrow, executive member for central services, said:-
"We have been striving in recent times to put technology at the
heart of what we do to create efficient and effective e-government
which has a positive impact on people's lives. These kiosks
are a central plank of this policy and customer feedback tells us
that they are wanted while being easy to use and they also fill the
gap in technology that many people may have at home. We are
committed to making sure everyone has access to computers and
technology, and we want to give people as much choice as possible as
to when and where they contact the council. The pavement pods mean
council services, tourism, culture, sport and jobs are within easy
reach of everyone."
The pods also connect people to cultural life in Liverpool helping
them to find out about the top 5 attractions in the area or log on
to Liverpool FC and Everton FC's websites. People can connect
to the Capital of Culture website to find out about the latest
developments and forthcoming events - and log on to the city's
tourism website to find information about attractions and hotel
accommodation. And they can connect to Crimestoppers and
Citysafe, as well as searching for the latest local and national
vacancies via a direct link to the job centre.
City council leader, Warren Bradley, said:- "Liverpool is
using the technology of the future now to connect people to the
city's culture, heritage and tourism, and provide instant links to a
wealth of council services. These groundbreaking pavement pods
are the latest example of how we are using innovative,
forward-thinking projects to make the city more tourist-friendly,
business-friendly and customer-friendly. I am delighted that
the pods are a success and have become a recognisable cultural and
information beacons for the city."
Users can also click on links to 13 different languages and the
kiosks all have texttalk which reads the text for visually impaired
people or those with reading difficulties. Liverpool Direct
Limited (LDL) is also continually looking to improve content and
would be happy to hear suggestions from kiosk users and city
residents. |
