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The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the performance criteria is detailed below. The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the racing industry to provide first aid and emergency care for horses. Workplaces include harness and thoroughbred racing stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas. |
Measuring and recording may include: | measuring rectal temperature with mercury and digital thermometers writing diary entries for temperature in degrees centigrade measuring heart rate over 30 seconds, then calculating in beats per minute writing diary entries for heart rate in beats per minute measuring respiration in breaths per minute writing diary entries for respiration in breaths per minute. |
Hydration level reporting methods may include: | verbal and diary entry of observation of neck skin pinch rebound time measured in seconds verbal and diary entry of observation of capillary refill time measured in seconds. |
Common illnesses may include: | circulatory disorders eye, nose and mouth disorders, including: bleeding conjunctivitis ulcers digestive disorders, including: colic diarrhoea or scouring metabolic disorders: exertional rhabdomyolosis (tying up) thumps musculo-skeletal disorders: back soreness knocked down hip shin soreness respiratory disorders, including: exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) respiratory infections travel sickness skin disorders, including: girth galls rain scald ringworm whither sores. |
Causes for shock may include: | colic extensive wounds fractured limbs loss of blood snakebite traumatic accidents, for example hit by car. |
Common injuries may include: | bruises falls girth galls joint injuries over-reaching scalping speedy cutting sprained ligaments or tendons strained muscles tack rubs wounds. |
Incident site may be inspected and assessed to identify: | potential hazards for illness or injury of horses or people, including: building or facility damage crush or impact hazards electrocution hazards slip, trip or fall hazards toxic substances rescue equipment required, including: restraints ropes winches rescue specialist assistance requirements: emergency services veterinary assistance animal health specialist services. |
First aid policy and procedures may include: | administration of treatments communication procedures when horses are treated disease prevention and control emergency care emergency phone numbers, for example veterinarian and fire department permissible treatments procedure for recording treatments procedure for recording and reporting vital signs routine health checks replenishing supplies of first aid kits system of referral for injury treatment staff access to first aid treatments and materials. |
Reasons referral to a specialist may be necessary include: | horse may: be insured have to be treated with race day or non-race day prohibited substances have to be withdrawn from competition require prescription medication require stitching or specialist injury management or treatment illness may be: contagious condition notifiable disease passed on to humans illness or injury may be: life threatening or have consequences to ongoing career of horse result of neglect or non-compliance with duty of care. |
Horses may be restrained using: | bit and head collar or bridle crush leg lift skin pinch twitch. |
Risks associated with handling horses may include: | bites horse injury kicks personal injury trampling. |
Controlling risks associated with handling horses may include: | adhering to responsibilities under OHS legislation and workplace practices adhering to responsibilities under national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfare considering variables that influence behaviour of horses, such as : fences and equipment other persons or animals vehicles wind and noise contributing to development of risk control measures following safe operating procedures identifying and reporting unsafe work practices identifying emergency situations, for example: gear breakage horse getting loose understanding individual horse behaviour wearing personal protective equipment. |
Basic first aid may include: | applying bandages for: controlling bleeding and swelling drawing out foreign bodies or pus splinting wound protection cleaning wounds controlling bleeding managing shock nursing sick, in pain or anxious horses observing behaviour signs and symptoms of illness and injury preventing where possible further injury or spread of disease providing clean, warm or cool shelter out of inclement weather quarantining sick horses removing where possible cause of illness or injury restraining an injured or cast horse to prevent further injury taking and monitoring vital signs treating swelling and inflammation. |
First aid equipment may include: | antiseptic creams, lotions or sprays bandages and wound dressings infection control items inflammation and swelling control items, including: cold hosing icepacks pressure bandaging poultices scissors wound cleaning solutions. |
Wounds are cleaned with consideration to: | options for treatment when animal is in pain or reluctant to stand still possible requirement for stitching of wound potential for infection presence of foreign bodies or internal damage. |
Swelling can be controlled by: | cold water therapy: hosing whirlpool boots walking in cold water ice therapy: ice boots icepacks using available sources, such as frozen peas or ice blocks pressure bandaging. |
Nursing may include: | adjusting rugs to ensure adequate warmth keeping horse quiet and calm monitoring vital signs and behaviour regularly sponging or hosing to lower temperature. |
Signs of injury, soreness or foreign bodies in horse's feet may include: | distorted shape or angle of limbs favouring a leg heat irregular movement in some or all gaits reluctance to allow leg or foot to be handled reluctance to move resting a foot swelling visible object in foot. |
Types of injuries and ailments to hooves, feet and legs may include: | capped hocks corns laminitis loose shoe navicular disease sand cracks seedy toe shin soreness sole bruise and abscess thrush. |
Application of poultice may include: | selecting drawing agent, including: commercial preparations herbal or other treatments heat treatment applying protective covering, such as: paper, plastic or other layers adhesive bandages and bandage cover poultice boots sole protectors. |
Condition and fit of horse shoes would include: | shoes display even wear shoe seated along hoof wall avoiding pressure on bars and sole shoes firmly fitted to hoof, and nails tight enough to ensure shoe fit is stable shoe removed if considered likely to cause further damage by: identifying and describing function of shoeing tools required to remove a loose shoe lifting and holding front and back legs in safe and appropriate position to remove shoe removing shoe using personal protective equipment, appropriate tools and techniques by: loosening and removing nail clenches removing shoe with minimal damage to hoof wall shoes shaped to fit hoof. |
Pre and post-race assessment must include: | pre-race assessment: assessing vital signs checking horse for illnesses and injuries checking feed and water intake checking manure quantity and quality checking shoe wear and fit observing behaviour post-race assessment: black eyes epistaxis horse's recovery rate heat stress hydration limb injuries or heat or swelling muscle soreness shifting or sprung plates. |
Pharmaceutical or therapeutic treatments may include: | pharmaceutical: antibiotics and other anti-infective agents antiparasitics prescribed medications inhalants injectibles oral medications and pastes poultices topical medications vaccines therapeutic : acupuncture chiropractic electromagnetic exercise hydrotherapy ice and heat laser massage rest ultrasound. |
Rules include: | Australian and local rules of racing of the state or territory regulatory racing body. |
Prohibited substances include: | substances listed below as well as other items defined by racing regulatory authority from time to time, including: acidifying agents alkalising agents analgesics antihistamines anti-inflammatory agents bronchodilators buffering agents diuretics general and local anaesthetics hormones muscle relaxants narcotics respiratory stimulants sedatives tranquillisers vasodilators vitamins administered by injection. |