Safety Test Flashcards
Hazard
- Anything that can cause injury or death
(Falls/Heavy items/Substances/Animals) - Anything that can pollute the environment
(All chemicals and medications)
Physical Hazards
Examples: Various from animals; Back injuries from improper lifting; Falls on wet floors
Chemical Hazards
Examples: Drugs; Cleaning Agents; Insecticides
Biological Hazards
Examples: Tissue; Blood; Urine; Feces; Sharps containers
Zoonotic Hazards
Examples: Viral; Bacterial; Parasitic; Fungal
Zoonotic Definition
Spread between species (example: dog to human)
Safety in this Class (only the examples needed)
- Closed-toe shoes with non-slip soles
- Hair tied back when working with animals
- No headphones/earbuds
- Frequent hand washing
Why is cleaning important?
- Animal health (Prevents the spread of zoonotic diseases)
- A poorly cleaned habitat is unattractive
- Odors, messiness, disorganization and a generally unclean environment give the impression a pet is receiving poor quality care
Basic/Daily Cleaning
- Refreshing habitats
- Sweeping
- Washing dishes
- Wiping down counters
- Taking out trash
Deep/Weekly Cleaning
- Completely cleaning habitats
- Vacuuming
- Mopping
- Tidying spaces that have gotten messy
Yellow Scrubber
- Any items used for food or water for mammals
- Always in small sink
- Always with HOT water and Dawn
Blue Scrubber
- Any items that may come in contact with urine, feces, or reptiles
- Always in the large tub sink
- Always with HOT water and Dawn
Green Scrubber
- Used ONLY with Soft Scrub to clean sinks/tubs
- Contains bleach
- Never use on animal items
Large wire portions of cages
Wiped down with Rescue diluted in a bucket and a cleaning rag, then let air dry
Multi-purpose cleaners
- Wipes, spray
- ONLY used when directed
- ONLY on surfaces like counters, shelves
- Never use on animal items or in animal spaces
Rescue (cleaning supplies)
- Hospital-grade cleaner
- Safe for animals
- Comes as a concentrate, MUST be diluted
- Use for: Tables/countertops; Mopping floors; Carriers; Exercise balls; Reptile containers
Diluting Rescue Concentrate
- 2oz (or pumps) per gallon of water
- Each pump is 1oz
- Refill spray bottles with pre-diluted Rescue
- Add to a bucket of hot water for cleaning cages
- Add to a mop bucket of hot water for floors
- Each line on mop bucket is 2 gallons
Who’s responsible for cleaning?
- EVERYONE
- Cleanup duty will rotate
- If you see a mess, clean it up, even if it isn’t your turn!
Types of reptiles
- Bearded Dragon
- Frog
- Toad
- Turtle
- Gecko
- Snake
*There is a gecko and a snake in the classroom
What do the reptiles need?
- Substrate
- Shelter/humid hide
- Water dish
- Food dish
- Mealworms
- Veggies - Heat source
- Lamp
- Heat pad - Activity/accent items
Types of small mammals
- Chinchilla
- Ferret
- Gerbil
- Guinea Pig
- Hamster
- Rabbit
- Rat
What do the small mammals need?
- Layer of newspaper on bottom + bedding
- Hut and/or hammock
- Activity items
- Feeding dish
- Water
- Hay: Only chinchillas, guinea pigs, and rabbits
- Litter pan
Water
- Single most important nutrient for every living being
- Caged pets should never be without fresh water access
Water Bottle Facts
- Water should be changed daily to prevent bacteria growth
- Water bottles offer a one-way flow to reduce contamination
- Flow is controlled by a ball bearing valve in the spout – tongue moves valve to allow water to flow out
- Water bottles need to be secured upright to prevent leaking
- Hamsters & gerbils stand to drink
- Ferrets like to munch and sip with their water near the food
Water Bottle Spout Details
- Spout size is very important:
- Too big = tongue not able to easily move
valve
- Too small = takes too long to drink, pet
gets tired - Spout height/placement is also very important:
- Too low, pet may choke
- Too high, pet won’t get enough
Water Bottle Sizes
- 8oz = hamsters, gerbils, mice
- 16oz/0.5L = small guinea pigs, rats, chinchillas
- 32oz/1L = indoor rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets
- 64oz = outdoor rabbits (heavy intake during hot weather)
Cleaning the water bottles
- Use HOT water
- Use a bottle brush to get all the slime
- Rinse completely to make sure there is no residue
- Dry upside down in drying rack until completely dry
- NEVER use soap
Troubleshooting with a dripping water bottle
- A little dripping at first is normal
- Fill water bottle completely
- Tap the ball bearing with your fingertip to reset the vacuum seal
- Check the rubber gasket – is it missing or damaged?
- Screw cap/spout on tightly
- Ensure bottle is secured in an upright position
