BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN CARING AND GIVING CARE...

     For the last several years, Ohmeda has been making intensive care possible for severely injured and/or orphaned wild creatures brought to us for care.  An injured animal is often also in shock when it is found.  A low surface body temperature, weak pulse, pale mucous membrane color and rapid respiration are common symptoms of shock as a result of traumatic injury. Emergency treatment includes slowly bringing the body temperature back to normal, oral or intravenous fluid therapy to correct dehydration due to loss of body fluids and the use of certain drugs determined to be beneficial in improving the patient's chance of survival and reducing permanent damage.

     One of the most important tools we use during treatment of traumatic injury is the incubator and, thanks to Ohmeda, Fellow Mortals has been able to provide intensive care for cottontails, songbirds, raptors -- even fawn -- using various Ohmeda units, including infant incubators and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit™ radiant warmer, which allows us to hook a temperature probe directly to the immobilized patient, keeping the heat provided at a set constant. Some of the Ohmeda units are 40 years old or more and still function flawlessly.   Some are more modern, with digital controls and Plexiglas™ in place of glass.  Because of the variety of the Ohmeda equipment available for use, we are able to treat animals requiring isolation without compromising their care or the health of other patients housed nearby, and have been able to keep nestling birds warm and separated by species -- another important aspect of preventing injury and spread of disease among patients. Ohmeda incubators were used for initial care for the majority of the 1,200 patients brought to Fellow Mortals in 1998!

     We feel extremely fortunate to be able to have Ohmeda equipment at the heart of our wildlife hospital and wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge the immense contribution of Lynn Breeding, Senior Product Manager of Ohmeda's Maryland facility, that allows us to make quality care available to the wildlife you bring to Fellow Mortals.  We also want to thank Charles Kiepert and Mike Donahoe, with Ohmeda's Madison branch, for their help in bringing our emergency care equipment to a level equal with the importance of our very special patients.