Safety, Sanitation, & First Aid

1. Safety, Sanitation, & First Aid Submitted by Callie Parr and used in cooperation with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The materials that appear in this document may be freely reproduced for educational/training activities. There is no requirement to obtain special permission for such uses. We do, however, ask that the following statement appear on all reproductions: This permission statement is limited to the reproduction of material for educational/training events. Systematic or large-scale reproduction or distribution (more than one hundred copies per year)—or inclusion of items in publications for sale—may be done only with prior written permission. Also, reproduction on computer disk or by any other electronic means requires prior written permission. Contact the University of Illinois Agricultural Education Program to obtain special permission. The University of Illinois and its affiliated entities, in addition to the individual submitting the materials, assumes no liability to original work or activities therein. SAFETY, SANITATION, & FIRST AID, by CALLIE PARR Materials produced for classroom use in conjunction with permission from the University of Illinois Agricultural Education Program.

2. Safety, Sanitation, & First Aid

3. If is smells clean, it is clean. • Odor control is crucial • “Would I want my animal to stay here?” • Clean as you go • No one is too “high up” to clean up after themselves. Housekeeping

4. Autoclave • An appliance that sterilizes instruments • Sharps Container • A designated contain for needles and other hazardous materials Housekeeping

5. Cats need a litter pan • Cleaning should occur morning and night • Smaller quarters • Remove uneaten food from the cage in a timely manner Housekeeping

6. Large animal stalls need to be cleaned daily • Manure on boots and overalls needs to be left at the door and cleaned as soon as possible Housekeeping

7. Animal patients can bite, scratch, kick • Needles, scalpels, etc can injure • Chemicals, drugs, etc can poison • Urine, feces, medical wastes can contaminate • Even over exposure to X-Rays Safety Hazards

8. Most common injuries are bites • Goes back to knowing how to safely handle animals • Practice makes perfect • Start with easily handled animals and move to more difficult animals • Assume that an animal will bite Preventing Accidental Injury

9. Learn animals’ body language • Use restraining devices • Do not rely on owners to restrain animals • Keep pharmaceuticals in locked cabinets • Keep chemicals clearly labeled Preventing Accidental Injury

10. MSDS (material safety data sheets) are published by manufacturers of all chemicals that outline the toxicity, special handling instructions, and first aid steps in case of contamination Preventing Accidental Injury

11. Preventing the spread of disease from one patient to the next is crucial • Hand washing is the backbone of disease prevention • Isolation of infected animals is also important Preventing Disease

12. Feed and water sick animals after healthy animals • Change smock/scrubs as needed • Wear gloves as often as possible Preventing disease

13. Bites • Usually a puncture or laceration • Control bleeding • Clean area • Bandage the wound • Investigate patient history to learn of infectious diseases First Aid

14. To control bleeding • Apply pressure • Use clean gauze if available • Apply a bandage First Aid

15. To clean the area • iodine tincture • Hydrogen peroxide • To apply a bandage • Make sure it is snug to apply pressure • Check for feeling and circulation First Aid

16. To control bleeding • Apply pressure • Use clean gauze if available • Elevate the injured area above the heart First Aid

17. Broken Bones • Immobilize the joint above and below the fracture • Keep the patient quiet • Seek doctor care First Aid

18. Chemical burns • Eliminate the caustic agent • Flush/wash with large amnts of water • Loosely cover the area with a nonstick dressing • Monitor the patient for shock First Aid

19. Poisoning (ingestion) • Eliminate poison • Follow directions on safety label of chemical • Keep patient quiet • Induce/restrict vomiting • Monitor and treat symptoms as they present First Aid

20. Poisoning (inhalation) • Eliminate poison by moving to fresh air • Follow directions on safety label of chemical • Restrict movement • Monitor and treat symptoms as they present • DO NOT become a victim yourself First Aid

21. First Aid • Emergency and nonemergency ailments and traumas require immediate attention to prevent serious situations from turning into life threatening ones • Some problems, like bleeding that cannot be stopped or convulsions require the immediate attention of an expert in veterinary medicine • Other problems can be treated by the animal's owner

22. First Aid Supplies • Powered Electrolytes • Vet wrap • Bute or other animal analgesic • Rope (for securing animal) • rags/ rubber tubing for tourniquet • instant cold pack • Gauze pads • gauze roll/ bandages • roll of cloth • Thermometer • Tweezers • hydrogen peroxide • antibiotic ointment

23. Fractured Bones • Symptoms • Some bone breaks show obvious symptoms • twisted or distorted limbs or bone fragments sticking through the skin • Swelling of the affected area with 24 hours can be expected from any sort of fracture • Less apparent breaks cause great pain and discomfort • Will cry or bite when the affected area is touched • will lie around, often on the affected area • will usually not walk, although in some cases it will walk despite the break • notably when the pelvis is broken

24. Fractured Bones • Treatment • Treatment of compound fractures by a veterinarian should be sought as soon as possible • Other breaks should be treated by a veterinarian within 24 hours

25. Fractured Bones • Muzzle animal • Gently lay animal on a board, wooden door, tarp, etc. padded with blankets • Secure animal to the support • Do not attempt to set the fracture • If a limb is broken, wrap the leg in cotton padding, then wrap with a magazine, rolled newspaper, towel or two sticks and secure with tape • Splint should extend one joint above the fracture and one joint below • Make sure wrap does not constrict blood flow. • If the spine, ribs, hip, etc. appears injured or broken, gently place the animal on the stretcher and immobilize it if possible

26. Electrical Burns • Symptoms • All burns are painful to the touch • Electrical burns are the most serious and can cause heart attacks and death • The burned area will show seared flesh, reddened skin, lesions, and blisters • The animal may suffer respiratory distress • paleness or blueness in lips, gums, and eyelid linings • rigidity in limbs • glassy stare • Collapse • and shock

27. Thermal & Friction Burns • Thermal burns cause a singed or charred area • The exposed skin is reddened or inflamed • The wound is warm or hot to the touch • Friction burns are similar in appearance to thermal burns, but the skin is chafed or scraped and has bare spots • bare skin is rubbed raw • is reddish in color • is irritated or inflamed • may leave cuts, lacerations, or embedded foreign matter

28. Burns • Treatment • Depending on the type and extent of the burn, it can often be treated at home • Electrical burns can cause shock and must be treated immediately by a veterinarian • if shock occurs, keep the animal warm with heating pads or hot water bottles and a blanket or heavy coat • Thermal burns can be treated topically by applying aloe or vitamin E oil • Friction burns can be treated topical ointment • if foreign matter is embedded the animal should be taken to a veterinarian • Chemical burns • Flush immediately with large quantities of cold water

29. Constipation • Symptoms • The animal struggles or strains during a bowel movement without passing a stool • avoids food • becomes nervous or irritated • Treatment • Feed the animal brans, cereal foods, vegetables (peas, carrots, corn), kibble • use infant-size glycerine suppositories or soap • give an enema if the animal will allow it • add a small amount of stool softener, such as Metamucil,® to food

30. Diarrhea • Symptoms • The animal passes liquid stool during bowel movement • there may be abnormal coloration of the stool. • Treatment • Remove grease, oils, and milk from the animal's diet • avoid high-fiber foods, kibble, and dry catmeal • feed the animal a mix of one part cooked hamburger, drained of grease, and one part rice • If diarrhea results from ingestion of foreign matter (from eating plants, soap, etc.), treat it with small doses of Pepto Bismol • If symptoms persist for more than 24 hours, or if blood is present in the stool, consult a veterinarian

31. Respiratory Infections • Symptoms • Sneezing, coughing, runny eyes, swollen glands, difficulty swallowing, labored breathing, fever • Treatment • If symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and runny eyes are present but the animal remains active and eats normally, the condition is probably not serious and no treatment is needed • If the animal becomes lethargic and loses appetite, there are discharges of pus from its nose, congestion becomes heavy or labored breathing is continued, or fever of more than 102 degrees is present consult a veterinarian.

32. Shock • Symptoms • Weakness, collapse, pale or muddy-colored gums, fast heartbeat, difficulty breathing, no breathing, dilated pupils, low body temperature • Treatment. • Keep the animal warm by applying heating pads or hot water bottles and wrapping the animal in heavy blankets or coats • Bring the animal to a veterinarian at once.

33. Sprains • Symptoms • Occur in the joints • rapid swelling • area will be hot to the touch • The animal will not walk normally, if it walks at all

34. Sprains • Treatment • Apply cold compresses or ice packs gently to the swollen area • keep the area cool for a day or two • Wrap the affected area snugly with cloth, gauze, or athletic bandages • secure the wrapping to be sure the animal does not scratch or bite it off • Keep the animal quiet; discourage activity; avoid stairs • For sprains that heal and reoccur • apply hot towels or compresses • keep the injured area moist and warm for several days • If a sprain does not heal, or pain and swelling continue or are severe, see a veterinarian

35. Wounds • Symptoms • Cuts can be recognized by the presence of smoothly separated tissue and possible bleeding • Lacerations result in jaggedly torn skin, bleeding, swelling, irritation, and black or blue discoloration of the skin • Abrasions rub or scrape away the outer layers of skin, causing pain, swelling, redness, and heat • Bruises or contusions leave black-and-blue tissue and swelling

36. Wounds • Treatment. • Any serious wound should be treated by a veterinarian if the bleeding will not stop, if blood is gushing out, or if shock is present • Cuts that are bleeding • Press thick gauze pad over wound. Hold firmly until clotting occurs. • If bleeding is severe, apply a tourniquet between the wound and the heart. • Loosen tourniquet for 20 seconds every 15-20 minutes. • A tourniquet is dangerous and should only be used in life-threatening hemorrhaging of a limb. It may result in amputation or disability of the limb.

37. Wounds • clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide/iodine/bedadine • apply an antiseptic or antibiotic to a gauze square and wrap snugly in place • Keep the animal as quiet as possible • Change the dressing daily and keep the animal from removing it • Lacerations can be treated in the same way as cuts • an ice bag must be used to reduce swelling and prevent further inflammation • Abrasions require the application of a soothing cream, ointment, or lotion • a bandage is not needed • the animal must be kept from licking the treated area • Bruises and contusions are best treated with cold compresses or ice packs.

38. Bleeding (internal) • Symptoms • bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum; coughing blood; blood in urine; pale gums; collapse; rapid or weak pulse. • Keep animal as warm and quiet as possible • Seek veterinary attention as soon as possible