By the Numbers March 2013

We’re honoring man’s best friend this month with a few fun canine facts as well as some information that might make you appreciate your local EMS a little more.
 

66

Percentage of the walks taken each week by owners that are due to their dogs
 

50-130

Number of normal heartbeats per minute for a resting dog
 

12-18

Preferred age for a puppy to begin running with its owner
 

100

Types of different facial expressions a dog has, most of which are made with their ears
 

350

Number of recognized dog breeds, worldwide
 

19

Maximum speed in miles per hour that most domestic dogs can reach when running
 

343

Weight in pounds of the biggest dog ever recorded, an English mastiff named Zorba
 

1,700

Number of taste buds in a dog (humans have approximately 9,000)
 

200

Amount of words a dog can understand, including signals and hand movements with the same meanings as words
 

33

Percentage of dog owners who admit to talking to their dogs on the phone or leaving messages on answering machines for them while away
 

29

Age of the longest living dog in history, an Australian cattle dog
 

10 

Estimated number in millions of First Responders in the United States
 

1 

Number (in millions) of firefighters in America, approximately 750,000 of which are volunteers
 

40

Minimum amount of work hours per week required of paramedics
 

6

Number of points on the EMS logo’s star, representing Detection, Reporting, Response, On Scene Care, In Transit Care, Transfer to Definitive Care (the assignments given to an EMS team)
 

5

Percentage of paramedics who are not paid for their work
 

99

Percentage of the American population that can dial 9-1-1 and receive medical assistance in an emergency
 

85

Typical max weight of the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed (Bella, one of 2011's Fittest Dogs, is a ridgeback)
 

300

Pounds carried by Mouse, one of 2012's Fittest Dogs (a swiss mountain dog) at sulky draft cart events