By KRISTEN LEVINE
Tribune correspondent

TAMPA - There’s no 911 for pet emergencies.

So, would you know what to do if you pet suddenly became injured or ill?

It’s a good idea to have a plan, say experts with the American Red Cross.

“If a human gets injured or ill, we can rely on the emergency medical system to help us out,” Joy Zukauskas, a pet first-aid instructor for the American Red Cross, says in a prepared statement.

“Such a service does not exist for our furry friends. It’s important for pet owners to know how to handle emergencies until they can get their friend to the veterinarian.”

Longer days and warmer weather lead to more outdoor activities such as cookouts, gardening and travel. While those are fun for family members, they can pose dangers to pets.

Be sure to keep a pet first-aid kit along with your family’s first-aid kit to help you be prepared.

Here are some items you should keep in the kit: Ace bandage or Vet-Wrap, medical tape, nonstick cotton pads, scissors, cotton or bandage padding, disinfecting solution, Benadryl, antibiotic cream, Hydrocortisone cream, Pepto Bismol for dogs, hemostatic powder, towels for splints or to wrap around the animal and a muzzle or narrow strip of cloth to serve as muzzle.

Home Accidents

Most accidents involving pets happen at home, and poisoning is one of the most common accidents.

Many items kept indoors can be dangerous to pets, including trash, foods, medications, soaps, detergents and cleansers.

Dangers also lurk outdoors, in the form of antifreeze, gasoline, insecticides and herbicides “safely” hidden away.

If your pet ingests a toxic household substance, do not induce vomiting unless recommended by a veterinarian.

You can call the American Poison Control Center’s emergency hot line at any hour if you suspect your pet has been poisoned. The number is 1-888-426-4435. A consultation fee may apply.

Grab your pet and the package it got into and get to the veterinarian’s office as soon as possible. The product label will have critical information to help the vet determine a treatment.

Other outdoor hazards include lawn and garden tools, which can wound a pet.

If a pet gets cut, examine the wound and stop the bleeding.

Small, superficial wounds should be kept clean with running water or mild soap and water. Antibiotic cream can be used, but watch that the pet doesn’t ingest the medication. Don’t use it on small pocket pets or rabbits.

Apply direct pressure to deeper wounds, and transport the animal to the veterinarian immediately. Nonstick pads or an ace bandage can serve as a good pressure wrap while transporting the pet. Deep puncture wounds should be kept clean and open if possible.

Campfires and barbecues cause hundreds of dog and cat injuries each year, according to a medical database managed by Banfield, The Pet Hospital. If a pet sustains a small first-degree burn (red skin but no deep tissue damage), cool the area with water and watch for blistering. If the burned area is large or if blisters develop, have the pet seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Seasonal allergies also may lead to a trip to the veterinary emergency room. Contact allergies, flea dermatitis and ear problems tend to escalate in the springtime. Although you might not think itchy skin and earaches are an emergency, pets suffering these symptoms can be in quite a bit of pain, and ailments can worsen if left untreated.

Travel Safely

Many pet owners take their pets along for the ride on daily errands, so it’s important to keep them safe in the car.

Not only can an unrestrained pet get hurt in an accident, but the distraction it presents also may actually cause one. Besides being hurt, an unrestrained pet also poses a risk to other occupants in the car.

Crash testing proves that a pet’s weight is multiplied by 30 in a 30 mph crash. A 10-pound dog generates 300 pounds of force in a 30 mph crash.

Even minor accidents can frighten pets into jumping from open doors or windows into oncoming traffic.

So for everyone’s safety, restrain your pets.

Smaller pets may ride in crates that can be secured to seats with safety belts. Pet safety harness systems are readily available in various sizes and attach to a car’s seat belt system.

If your pet is injured in a crash and medical personnel are tending to human injuries first, ask the emergency crew if it can call a friend or family member to transport the injured pet to an animal hospital.

When helping an injured animal, follow these tips from the American Red Cross to decrease your risk of being scratched or bit:

• Approach the sick or injured animal slowly and cautiously.

• Watch the pet’s body language, and listen to the sounds it is making. Even your pet can be aggressive when in pain or frightened.

• Don’t make quick, jerky or loud movements. That might make the animal more scared.

• When necessary, use towels or blankets to subdue cats or small dogs.

• Have someone help you restrain the pet and apply a muzzle, if necessary.

Once you stabilize your pet, get it to a veterinarian or the nearest emergency animal clinic.

It’s wise to have your veterinarian recommend an after-hours clinic and to know where it is before an emergency arises. Keep its name and number in a handy location.

You can learn more about pet safety by reading “Pet First Aid,” a softcover book written by Bobbie Mammato and published by the Red Cross.

To purchase the book, contact the Tampa Red Cross Chapter at 1-877-741-1444, or ask for it at your local bookstore.

Pet first-aid classes also are available through the Tampa chapter of the American Red Cross. Go to http://www.redcrosstbc.org for upcoming dates.

(CHART) CRITTER CALENDAR

YAPPY HOUR: Dogs and their owners are invited to Yappy Hour at 7 p.m. Sunday at New World Brewery, 1313 E. 18th Ave, Tampa. For information, call (813) 248-4969 or go to http://www.barkofthebay.com.

Write to pet-lifestyle expert Kristen Levine at Fetching Communications, P.O. Box 222, Tarpon Springs FL 34688; e-mail ; or fax to (727) 934-6451.