CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Jessica Coy knows how to perform the Heimlich maneuver on people. But when her dog Brodie started heaving and vomiting one day, she wasn’t sure if the abdominal thrusts used to save human choking victims would work on her black Labrador-mix.

Panicked, she wrapped her arms around Brodie’s belly and gave him a push.

“When things like that happen, you just freak out. I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right,” said Coy, who lives on Kadena Air Base with her airman husband.

Successful in saving Brodie’s life, the incident prompted Coy to learn more about pet safety.

Coy and eight other animal lovers Saturday performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation — or CPR — bandaged pad wounds and treated fractures on mannequin dogs during an American Red Cross dog first-aid course at Camp Foster.

The nonprofit launched the three-hour course in March at Kadena Air Base and rotates classes between the two bases.

While some may squirm at the thought of performing CPR on a dog, pet owners like 1st Sgt. Keith Davis, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, Combat Logistics Regiment, take the mouth-to-snout resuscitation seriously.

Pet CPR success stories have already popped up in the States. Last month, a firefighter in West Monroe, La., responding to a mobile-home fire, saved a dog’s life when he performed CPR.

Davis and his wife, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Pam Davis, of Marine Corps Base, want to make sure they can do the same for their miniature schnauzer, Buddy.

“We might have to use it one day to save our dog’s life — he’s part of our family,” Davis said.

Red Cross station manager Phyllis Marvin agreed, which is why she brought the first-aid course to the Pacific. Instructors here are volunteers.

Marvin said most people wait until a tragedy happens before they learn emergency first aid.

She hopes these courses change that approach.

“Most aren’t interested until they’re in a situation where something happens — even with human CPR — and they always feel bad they weren’t able to do something,” she said. “I’m hoping this teaches people how to handle a situation and not be afraid to do something.”

The course provides participants with other emergency preparedness tips and hands-on training to help pet owners treat their four-legged friends in any situation — from a car accident to sunburns and poisoning.

Preparation is key, said instructor and veterinarian Lt. Col. Steve Niehoff, of Detachment 3, School of Aerospace Medicine, on Kadena.

Okinawa’s extreme humidity and coral reefs make dogs prone to heat stroke and paw-pad injuries that can cause serious bleeding.

Niehoff said pet owners should keep first-aid kits for their dogs and pay attention for unhealthy signs like weight loss and heavy breathing.

“You got to know what’s normal for your dog before you know what’s abnormal. I think it’s awareness. It’s more than just CPR; it’s emergency first aid,” he said.

Maria Neblett, 12, and her 10-year-old brother, Marco, of Camp McTureous said the safety tips will come in handy for their pet-sitting business they hope to open in August. Both agreed learning how to properly muzzle a dog would be particularly useful when it comes to their 4-month-old Shiba inu, Tsuki.

“She’s teething,” Marco said.

“And she likes to go nip, nip,” Maria added.

Marvin said a cat first-aid course is in the works, and that pet first-aid will soon be offered at bases on mainland Japan.

Want to take the class?

Next Class: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 26, American Red Cross office, Kadena Air Base

Cost: $25, which includes first-aid book and DVD

Pre-registration is required. Call DSN 645-3800 or 634-1979

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