n Safety and Emergencies
n
Introduction to Zookeeping
n Animal Care Technology I
n Pensacola Junior College
n CLOTHING AND GEAR
n Footwear
n Lightweight hiking boots
n Treads
n Duck boots
n Gloves
n Leather work gloves a must for projects
n Sensitive hands:
n Bike gloves for raking
n Face, Eye, Ear Protection
n Masks: chemicals, disease prevention
n Goggles: chemicals, animal weapon defense
n Ear protection: power tools, parrots
n Other Gear:
n
Raingear
n
Uniform
n
Hat
n
Skin protection
n
Leatherman
n Hazards of Gear
n Loose clothing
n Jewelry
n Hairstyles
n Lack of proper protection for feet, eyes, skin
n ROUTINES
n Keeper Routine – what is it?
n A method for completing tasks that ensures the tasks are
always completed in the same way, at the same time of day, and in the same
order
n Keeper Routine – why use it?
n Animals know what to expect (habituation)
n Keepers have a better idea what to expect
n Keeper remembers tasks
n Animal observations on set schedule
n Any negatives?
n Keeper Routines & Safety
n Know where your animals are at all times!
n Have routine for checking exhibits to know that animals
will remain where they are supposed to be!
n CLEANING ENCLOSURES
n Examples of Risks
n Exposure to chemical cleaning agents
n Illness from pathogens in enclosure
n Physical injury from animals
n Slipping on wet surfaces
n Contract illness from animals
n Bash head in enclosure
n Scratch skin on surfaces
n Fall from tree
n Minimizing Risks
n Wear protective clothing
n Wash your hands when you may have come into contact with
pathogens (and keep your hands away from your face until doing so)
n Avoid eating, drinking, smoking while cleaning
n Wear a mask as needed
n Change clothing as needed
n RECORDKEEPING
n Written Records!!
n No ones forgets to pass on
information
n The message doesn’t change as it is passed along
n Information with long term implications can be tracked
n New keepers have an information resource
n Records & Safety
n Protects staff – what is happening in an enclosure
n Protects staff – what is happening with an animal
n Protects animals – monitors their well-being
n CHEMICAL HAZARDS
n Dangers
n Burns
n Inhalation of harmful vapors
n Poisoning from accidental ingestion
n Fire due to combustibility
n Spatter or splashing
n Explosion from combining chemicals in the wrong sequence
n Information
n Avoidance
n Identify chemical hazards (MSDS)
n Use proper storage
n Use proper ventilation
n Follow directions for usage
n Never mix BLEACH and AMMONIA compounds
n OTHER HAZARD AREAS
n Plants
n Keeper injury (thorns, poisons, etc)
n Interfere with line of site
n Damage enclosure perimeter / substrate
n Animal escape routes
n Public
n Aggression
n Defensive
n Clumsy & unaware
n Distractions
n Structures
n Design problems
n Enclosure size / shapes
n Walking surfaces /substrates
n Function of devices (doors, gates, etc)
n Lighting
n Drainage
n Outlets
n ANIMAL HAZARDS
n Hazard Evaluation
n Physical size
n Strength
n Weapons, including:
n Talons or claws
n Fangs
n Tusks or teeth
n Venom or toxins
n Horns or antlers
n Aggressive behaviors, including:
n Kicking
n Biting
n Tail slapping
n Charging
n Clawing
n Avoiding Contact
n Physical barriers between yourself and animals
n Working from outside the cage or enclosure
n Staying out of animal reach when barriers are not
complete
n SHIFTING animals out before entering enclosures
n Avoiding dangerous animal artifacts
n Using shields and protective equipment
n Never opening an occupied cage
n Using long-reach tools
n Entering Occupied Enclosures
n Plan
n Follow routines
n Identify items for tools/shields/weapons
n Identify escape routes
n Know flight/critical distances
n Flight distance is the distance at which the animal will flee; critical distance is the distance at
which the animal will attack.
n In an open area, the animal can flee so its flight
distance is larger. Its critical distance is small or non-existent
n When escape is limited, critical distance is established
n When an animal is trapped, the critical distance
increases and attack occurs sooner
n When the animal is with a group, critical distance is
lengthened, because the animal has the support of others
n When more than one keeper approaches, it creates fear and
the animals flee
n When an animal is captured, group aggression might occur
if they hear the captured animal's distress call
n ANIMAL RESTRAINT
n Keeper Safety
n Have a plan and all materials ready
n Have a backup
n Know where the other animals are
n Public Safety
n Know where all public are
n Have staff to keep all public in safe positions
n Keep control of location of animals vs. public
n In educational presentations, control access of public
vs. animal
n Animal Safety
n Prepare safe conditions, tools, equipment
n Control other animals, staff, public
n Prepare backup and emergency plans
n Monitor animal during and after restraint
n EMERGENCIES
n Recognition
n If you suspect a problem, ASK!
n Don’t ignore
n Develop your “gut feelings”
n Don’t react without checking either to avoid creating a
problem
n Appropriate Communication
n Alarms
n Telephones
n 2-way radios
n Whatever you do, check on everyone in case of
emergencies
n Planning
n What might happen
n What you can do in an emergency
n What equipment or items you would need
n Who you need to assist
n How to get help
n What helpers should do
n ZOO EMERGENCIES
n Fire
n Waste baskets
n Trash can
n Dumpster
n Hay loft
n Storage room
n Kitchen
n Barn
n Vehicle
n Truck
n Car
n Cart
n Fire Extinguishers
n Natural Disasters
n Earthquakes
n Floods
n Storms
n Tornadoes
n Cyclones
n Hurricanes
n Natural Disasters cause..
n Falling debris
n Downed power lines
n Gas leaks
n Lack of power to operate mechanical doors, gates, etc.
n Slipping in water or other fluids
n Breaking windows
n Flying objects
n Being hit by lightening
n Darkness resulting from power failure
n Escaped animals
n And a wide range of other hazards
n Animal Escapes
n Call in escape in appropriate manner
n Follow your role at the facility
n General needs:
n If possible contain animal from further escape
n Check enclosure to secure other animals
n Secure public and staff safety
n Recapture animal according to team policies and
procedures
n Traumatic Injury / Sudden Illness
n Check for:
n Breathing
n Heartbeat
n Consciousness
n Bleeding
n Broken bones
n Other injury
n Body temperature
n Get emergency medical aid as appropriate
n Venomous Reptile Bite
n Sound the alarm or call for help
n Locate and calm the victim
n Identify the reptile
n Assess the victim's condition
n Remove the victim's jewelry and loosing restrictive
clothing where swelling might occur
n Administer first aid as appropriate
n If the wound is large and bleeding, stop the bleeding
n When qualified assistance arrives, relinquish care of
the victim to the qualified person
n Insect Stings
n Use baking soda & water or an insect sting solution
n Signs of anaphylactic shock include:
n Severe swelling at the site of the sting as well as the
eyes, lips, and/or tongue
n Difficulty breathing
n Dizziness, weakness, or collapse
n Widespread itching or hives
n Stomach cramps
n Nausea or vomiting
n Anxiety
n Bluish skin
n Pain lasting more than 48 hours
n Rescues
n To safely rescue someone, the rescuer must:
n Find a safe way to get the victim out of danger
n Find a safe way to administer first aid
n Know the danger
n Plan ways to eliminate the danger
n Plan ways to protect him- or herself from the danger
n Realize that the rescue of a victim may increase and add
hazards