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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 thermometerswriting diary entries for temperature in degrees centigrademeasuring heart rate over 30 seconds, then calculating in beats per minutewriting diary entries for heart rate in beats per minutemeasuring respiration in breaths per minutewriting 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 secondsverbal and diary entry of observation of capillary refill time measured in seconds. |
Common illnesses may include: | circulatory disorderseye, nose and mouth disorders, including:bleedingconjunctivitisulcersdigestive disorders, including:colicdiarrhoea or scouringmetabolic disorders:exertional rhabdomyolosis (tying up)thumpsmusculo-skeletal disorders:back sorenessknocked down hipshin sorenessrespiratory disorders, including:exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH)respiratory infectionstravel sicknessskin disorders, including:girth gallsrain scaldringwormwhither sores. |
Causes for shock may include: | colicextensive woundsfractured limbsloss of bloodsnakebitetraumatic accidents, for example hit by car. |
Common injuries may include: | bruisesfallsgirth gallsjoint injuriesover-reachingscalpingspeedy cuttingsprained ligaments or tendonsstrained musclestack rubswounds. |
Incident site may be inspected and assessed to identify: | potential hazards for illness or injury of horses or people, including:building or facility damagecrush or impact hazardselectrocution hazardsslip, trip or fall hazardstoxic substancesrescue equipment required, including:restraintsropeswinchesrescue specialist assistance requirements:emergency servicesveterinary assistanceanimal health specialist services. |
First aid policy and procedures may include: | administration of treatmentscommunication procedures when horses are treateddisease prevention and controlemergency careemergency phone numbers, for example veterinarian and fire departmentpermissible treatmentsprocedure for recording treatmentsprocedure for recording and reporting vital signsroutine health checksreplenishing supplies of first aid kitssystem of referral for injury treatmentstaff access to first aid treatments and materials. |
Reasons referral to a specialist may be necessary include: | horse may:be insuredhave to be treated with race day or non-race day prohibited substanceshave to be withdrawn from competitionrequire prescription medicationrequire stitching or specialist injury management or treatmentillness may be:contagious conditionnotifiable diseasepassed on to humansillness or injury may be:life threatening or have consequences to ongoing career of horseresult of neglect or non-compliance with duty of care. |
Horses may be restrained using: | bit and head collar or bridlecrushleg liftskin pinchtwitch. |
Risks associated with handling horses may include: | biteshorse injurykickspersonal injurytrampling. |
Controlling risks associated with handling horses may include: | adhering to responsibilities under OHS legislation and workplace practicesadhering to responsibilities under national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfareconsidering variables that influence behaviour of horses, such as : fences and equipmentother persons or animalsvehicleswind and noisecontributing to development of risk control measuresfollowing safe operating proceduresidentifying and reporting unsafe work practicesidentifying emergency situations, for example:gear breakagehorse getting looseunderstanding individual horse behaviourwearing personal protective equipment. |
Basic first aid may include: | applying bandages for:controlling bleeding and swellingdrawing out foreign bodies or pussplintingwound protectioncleaning woundscontrolling bleedingmanaging shocknursing sick, in pain or anxious horsesobserving behaviour signs and symptoms of illness and injurypreventing where possible further injury or spread of diseaseproviding clean, warm or cool shelter out of inclement weatherquarantining sick horsesremoving where possible cause of illness or injuryrestraining an injured or cast horse to prevent further injurytaking and monitoring vital signstreating swelling and inflammation. |
First aid equipment may include: | antiseptic creams, lotions or spraysbandages and wound dressingsinfection control itemsinflammation and swelling control items, including:cold hosingicepackspressure bandagingpoulticesscissorswound cleaning solutions. |
Wounds are cleaned with consideration to: | options for treatment when animal is in pain or reluctant to stand stillpossible requirement for stitching of woundpotential for infectionpresence of foreign bodies or internal damage. |
Swelling can be controlled by: | cold water therapy:hosingwhirlpool bootswalking in cold waterice therapy:ice bootsicepacks using available sources, such as frozen peas or ice blockspressure bandaging. |
Nursing may include: | adjusting rugs to ensure adequate warmthkeeping horse quiet and calmmonitoring vital signs and behaviour regularlysponging or hosing to lower temperature. |
Signs of injury, soreness or foreign bodies in horse's feet may include: | distorted shape or angle of limbsfavouring a legheatirregular movement in some or all gaitsreluctance to allow leg or foot to be handledreluctance to moveresting a footswellingvisible object in foot. |
Types of injuries and ailments to hooves, feet and legs may include: | capped hockscornslaminitisloose shoenavicular diseasesand cracksseedy toeshin sorenesssole bruise and abscessthrush. |
Application of poultice may include: | selecting drawing agent, including:commercial preparationsherbal or other treatmentsheat treatmentapplying protective covering, such as:paper, plastic or other layersadhesive bandages and bandage coverpoultice bootssole protectors. |
Condition and fit of horse shoes would include: | shoes display even wearshoe seated along hoof wall avoiding pressure on bars and soleshoes firmly fitted to hoof, and nails tight enough to ensure shoe fit is stableshoe removed if considered likely to cause further damage by:identifying and describing function of shoeing tools required to remove a loose shoelifting and holding front and back legs in safe and appropriate position to remove shoeremoving shoe using personal protective equipment, appropriate tools and techniques by:loosening and removing nail clenchesremoving shoe with minimal damage to hoof wallshoes shaped to fit hoof. |
Pre and post-race assessment must include: | pre-race assessment:assessing vital signschecking horse for illnesses and injurieschecking feed and water intakechecking manure quantity and qualitychecking shoe wear and fitobserving behaviourpost-race assessment:black eyesepistaxishorse's recovery rateheat stresshydrationlimb injuries or heat or swellingmuscle sorenessshifting or sprung plates. |
Pharmaceutical or therapeutic treatments may include: | pharmaceutical:antibiotics and other anti-infective agentsantiparasiticsprescribed medicationsinhalantsinjectiblesoral medications and pastespoulticestopical medicationsvaccinestherapeutic : acupuncturechiropracticelectromagneticexercisehydrotherapyice and heatlasermassagerestultrasound. |
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 agentsalkalising agentsanalgesicsantihistaminesanti-inflammatory agentsbronchodilatorsbuffering agentsdiureticsgeneral and local anaestheticshormonesmuscle relaxantsnarcoticsrespiratory stimulantssedativestranquillisersvasodilatorsvitamins administered by injection. |