What You Should Have in Place From the Beginning

Human first aid, animal first aid, veterinary emergencies, emergency planning, risk management and assistance-animal health and welfare are explored in considerably greater detail later in the AAOT Credential.

You are not expected to learn everything about emergency response from this Foundation topic.

However, emergencies can occur from the very beginning of professional practice. They do not wait until you have completed the relevant AAOT unit.

This topic therefore introduces the basic level of preparedness that you should have in place from the beginning of the credential and, importantly, before working professionally with assistance-animal teams.

At a minimum, this means thinking about:

• human first aid equipment;
• animal first aid equipment;
• knowing how to use the equipment you carry;
• understanding that human and animal first aid equipment are not automatically interchangeable;
• access to reliable first aid instructions;
• veterinary and medical emergency contacts;
• emergency planning;
• evacuation equipment;
• local environmental and disaster risks;
• regular inspection and maintenance of first aid equipment; and
• first aid and emergency preparedness for the assistance-animal teams you support.

We will return to these areas in much greater depth later.

For now, the important question is:

If an emergency happened tomorrow, would you have the basic equipment, knowledge, contacts and plan needed to respond appropriately?

First Aid Equipment for AAOT Practice

Assistance-animal practice involves responsibility for the safety of both people and animals.

As part of the WAFA Professional Credential, Occupational Therapists working with assistance animals are expected to maintain appropriate first aid equipment for human and animal emergencies.

At a minimum, AAOT practitioners should have ready access to:

• a current and appropriately stocked human first aid kit; and
• a current and appropriately stocked animal first aid kit.

These should be readily available wherever assistance-animal teams are routinely assessed, supported or otherwise seen as part of professional practice.

Depending upon the practitioner’s work, this may include:

• clinical premises;
• consultation rooms;
• workplaces;
• community settings;
• training or assessment environments; and
• vehicles routinely used when working with or transporting assistance-animal teams.

The location and contents of first aid equipment should reflect the practitioner’s work environment and risk assessment.

Human workplace first aid equipment must also meet the applicable Work Health and Safety requirements for the jurisdiction and workplace.

Human and Animal First Aid Kits Are Not Interchangeable

A human first aid kit should not simply be used as a substitute for an animal first aid kit.

There may be some overlap between the equipment contained in human and animal kits. For example, certain dressings, bandages, gloves and other basic supplies may have applications in both settings when used appropriately.

However, this does not mean that every product intended for human first aid is safe or appropriate for an animal.

Animals differ from humans in their:

• anatomy;
• physiology;
• metabolism;
• body size;
• skin and coat;
• medication tolerance;
• toxicity risks;
• methods of restraint and handling; and
• responses to injury, illness and stress.

Some medications and products routinely used by humans can cause serious poisoning, organ damage or death in animals.

For example, paracetamol can cause serious and potentially fatal toxicity in dogs and is particularly dangerous to cats. Other common human medications, including some anti-inflammatory medicines, can also be highly toxic to animals.

Never assume that a human medication is safe for an animal because it is available over the counter or routinely used by people.

Likewise, do not assume that a cream, antiseptic, medication, dressing or other human first aid product is appropriate for an animal merely because it is present in the human first aid kit.

Never administer human medication to an assistance animal unless specifically directed to do so for that animal by an appropriately qualified veterinarian.

If you are unsure whether a product can safely be used on an animal, contact a veterinarian before using it.

This is one reason WAFA expects practitioners and handlers to maintain separate, appropriately stocked human and animal first aid equipment, rather than relying upon a single human first aid kit for both members of the team.

The differences between human and animal first aid, common hazards and toxicities, appropriate first aid responses and veterinary escalation are explored in considerably greater detail later in AAOT.

Owning a First Aid Kit Is Not Enough

A first aid kit is only useful if you know what is inside it and how to use it.

Simply purchasing a commercially prepared kit and placing it in a cupboard or vehicle does not establish emergency preparedness.

Practitioners should:

• know what their kits contain;
• understand what each item is intended for;
• know when particular equipment should and should not be used;
• know how to use the equipment they are trained and competent to use;
• understand the limitations of first aid;
• recognise situations requiring medical or veterinary assistance;
• know where and how to obtain that assistance;
• regularly inspect their kits;
• replace items after use;
• monitor expiry dates;
• replace expired, damaged or contaminated products; and
• ensure equipment remains appropriately stored and readily accessible.

Having equipment available does not establish competence to use it.

For example, carrying a thermometer, haemostatic product, emergency muzzle or other specialist item does not mean that you automatically know when or how it should be used.

If you do not know how to safely use an item, do not attempt a procedure simply because the equipment is present.

Relevant first aid training, professional scope, your competence and the circumstances of the emergency should guide your response.

Keep First Aid Instructions With You

Even people who have completed first aid training may need to confirm an unfamiliar procedure during an emergency.

WAFA therefore recommends having a reliable first aid reference readily available.

This might include:

• a current human first aid handbook;
• an animal first aid handbook;
• a reputable human first aid app;
• a reputable animal first aid app;
• an appropriate emergency-reference application; or
• another reliable digital reference.

Consider having an appropriate first aid application installed on your phone or another device that you routinely carry.

A physical manual may also be useful, particularly where:

• mobile reception is unreliable;
• internet access may be unavailable;
• batteries may fail;
• you work in rural or remote locations; or
• an emergency disrupts telecommunications.

Where using a digital resource, consider whether important information can be accessed offline.

A reference resource can help provide a quick reminder under pressure, but it does not replace appropriate first aid training.

A useful preparedness combination is:

Training + Equipment + Reference + Emergency Contacts + Plan

Obtain Your Equipment Early

Human and animal first aid, veterinary emergencies and emergency planning are explored in greater detail later in AAOT.

However, do not wait until you reach those units to obtain basic emergency equipment.

WAFA recommends obtaining your:

• human first aid kit;
• animal first aid kit;
• appropriate first aid reference or app; and
• relevant emergency contact information

as early as possible.

Think of this Foundation topic as your starting preparedness checklist.

Later AAOT learning will help you examine, refine and expand your systems.

Know Where to Obtain Veterinary Help

AAOT practitioners should know how to access veterinary care within the areas in which they routinely practise.

At a minimum, identify:

• a nearby general veterinary practice;
• the nearest appropriate after-hours or emergency veterinary service; and
• alternative arrangements where 24-hour veterinary care is not locally available.

Save relevant contact details somewhere that can be accessed quickly.

For example:

• in your phone;
• within workplace emergency information;
• with your animal first aid kit; and
• in your vehicle where relevant.

Do not assume that you will have time to search for veterinary services after an emergency has occurred.

When You Are Unsure Whether Something Is an Emergency

If you are uncertain whether an animal requires urgent veterinary assessment, contact a veterinary service for advice.

Explain:

• what happened;
• when it occurred;
• the animal’s current condition;
• relevant known medical information;
• what first aid, if any, has already been provided; and
• any changes you have observed.

The veterinary service can advise about the appropriate next step or arrange for an appropriate member of the veterinary team to assist with triage.

Telephone-triage arrangements and fees vary between veterinary services.

Where there is a potentially serious or time-critical emergency, do not allow uncertainty about cost to prevent you from contacting veterinary services.

If financial constraints may affect access to treatment, explain this and ask what options may be available.

Where relevant, explain that the animal is an assistance animal, as loss of the animal’s function may have significant consequences for the disabled handler as well as for the animal.

Veterinary emergencies, veterinary communication, financial planning and preparing assistance-animal teams for veterinary care are explored in greater detail later in AAOT.

Choosing First Aid Kits

You may purchase a commercially prepared kit, customise a commercial kit, or assemble your own appropriately stocked kit.

Examples of suppliers and products familiar to WAFA include:

• Survival First Aid — human and workplace first aid equipment;
• Vet in a Van — animal first aid kits and supplies;
• Rescue Swag — human, workplace and pet first aid and emergency equipment, including portable options; and
• Dog First Aid Australia — canine first aid equipment and canine first aid education.

These are examples only.

WAFA does not require participants or handlers to purchase a particular brand.

The objective is not to own a particular commercial product.

The objective is to have appropriate, accessible, maintained equipment suited to the circumstances in which it may actually be required.

You Can Make Your Own Animal First Aid Kit

There is no requirement to purchase a pre-assembled commercial animal first aid kit.

Unlike workplace human first aid, which is subject to applicable Work Health and Safety requirements, there is no equivalent nationally prescribed standard contents list specifically for an assistance-animal first aid kit.

You may therefore:

• purchase a commercially prepared kit;
• customise a commercial kit;
• assemble your own;
• purchase individual components; or
• use a combination of these approaches.

A self-assembled kit can be particularly useful because it can reflect:

• species;
• animal size;
• known health needs;
• environment;
• activities undertaken;
• travel;
• rural or remote location;
• local hazards;
• access to veterinary care; and
• the person’s ability to safely use the equipment.

However, flexibility creates responsibility.

Do not simply assemble a collection of products that appear as though they might be useful.

Research what your kit should contain.

WAFA also recommends discussing your animal first aid kit with your veterinarian.

You might take your kit or contents list to a routine veterinary appointment and ask:

“If I needed to provide first aid before reaching veterinary care, is there anything important missing from this kit?”

Veterinary input may help identify:

• missing equipment;
• unnecessary products;
• products inappropriate for the particular animal;
• equipment requiring additional training;
• locally relevant risks;
• considerations arising from the animal’s health;
• appropriate emergency arrangements; and
• circumstances in which particular first aid measures should or should not be attempted.

The objective is not to build the biggest possible kit.

It is to build a practical, appropriate and usable kit.

Additional Animal Emergency Equipment

A standard animal first aid kit represents a basic level of preparedness.

Some practitioners may choose additional equipment depending upon:

• scope of practice;
• first aid competence;
• species encountered;
• work environment;
• travel;
• remoteness;
• environmental risks;
• client population;
• foreseeable emergencies;
• access to veterinary services; and
• individual risk assessment.

Optional additional equipment might include:

• appropriately sized emergency or short-term muzzles;
• an emergency dog sling or rescue harness;
• an appropriate commercial haemostatic product, such as SuperClot®;
• a digital thermometer suitable for animal use;
• a stethoscope;
• a penlight;
• an emergency blanket;
• spare leads;
• spare collars;
• temporary identification equipment;
• disposable gloves;
• towels;
• absorbent pads; and
• emergency evacuation equipment.

These are examples rather than mandatory AAOT equipment requirements.

Some equipment requires additional knowledge or skill to use safely.

An animal experiencing pain or fear may bite even where there is no previous history of aggression. Emergency muzzling may sometimes assist safe handling, but inappropriate use may create additional risk and can be contraindicated in some emergencies.

Likewise, carrying monitoring equipment does not authorise an Occupational Therapist to undertake veterinary diagnosis or treatment.

Equipment should support competent first aid and emergency response—not extend professional scope.

Dog First Aid Australia

Dog First Aid Australia is an Australian provider specialising in canine first aid, CPR, emergency preparedness and pre-veterinary emergency response.

Its educational resources can assist dog owners, handlers and people working professionally with dogs to develop practical emergency-response knowledge.

WAFA has also been advised that Dog First Aid Australia is involved in developing what is intended to become Australia’s first nationally accredited dog CPR course.

Once an appropriate nationally recognised dog CPR course becomes available, and WAFA has confirmed its accreditation, content and suitability, WAFA intends to incorporate it into the prerequisite requirements for the AAOT Credential.

Participants do not need to complete this future qualification now.

WAFA will advise participants when an appropriate nationally recognised course becomes available and explain:

• the relevant unit or course;
• when the requirement takes effect;
• any transition arrangements;
• how it applies to current participants; and
• how it will apply to future enrolments.

Existing AAOT credential holders will also be given the opportunity to upskill once the nationally recognised dog CPR training becomes available.

WAFA will advise credential holders about how and when this additional training can be completed and how it will be incorporated into ongoing credential requirements.

Current informal canine CPR or first aid education should not be represented as completion of the future nationally recognised qualification unless the nationally recognised training has actually been completed through an authorised provider.

Build Your Kit Around Your Practice

There is no single advanced animal first aid kit suitable for every AAOT practitioner.

Undertake a risk assessment considering factors such as:

• species;
• professional activities;
• practice setting;
• client demographics;
• animal characteristics;
• environmental hazards;
• transport;
• community access;
• rural or remote travel;
• distance from medical assistance;
• distance from veterinary assistance;
• foreseeable emergencies; and
• your own training and competence.

A practitioner working close to several veterinary hospitals may have different needs from an Occupational Therapist travelling to rural or remote communities where veterinary assistance may be hours away.

Your equipment should reflect the environments in which you actually practise.

First Aid Kit Checking and Maintenance

First aid kits are not a once-off purchase.

They need to be checked, maintained and restocked.

AAOT practitioners should have an appropriate policy and procedure for inspecting, maintaining and restocking first aid kits used within their professional practice.

This should include both human and animal first aid equipment.

The procedure should identify:

• which kits are maintained;
• where they are located;
• who is responsible for checking them;
• how frequently routine checks occur;
• when additional checks are required;
• the expected contents;
• how stock levels are monitored;
• how used items are replaced;
• how expiry dates are monitored;
• how damaged or contaminated products are identified;
• how sterile packaging is checked;
• how batteries or electronic equipment are checked where relevant;
• how emergency contact information is kept current; and
• how completion of checks is recorded.

Kits should also be checked after use, rather than waiting for the next scheduled inspection.

A simple dated checklist or inventory can provide evidence that the procedure is occurring.

Workplace human first aid arrangements must continue to meet applicable Work Health and Safety requirements.

A useful cycle is:

Risk Assess → Stock → Record → Check → Replace → Review → Update

You may retain your first aid policy, inventory, risk assessment, checking records or evidence of subsequent improvements within your AAOT Professional Portfolio where these meaningfully demonstrate development of your professional practice.

First Aid Preparedness for Assistance-Animal Handlers

First aid preparedness is not only a professional-practice consideration.

Every assistance-animal handler should have appropriate animal first aid equipment readily available for their assistance animal.

At a minimum, an assistance-animal handler should have an appropriately stocked animal first aid kit:

• in their home; and
• in any vehicle regularly used with the assistance animal.

Where practical, WAFA also strongly recommends having a portable animal first aid kit with the team whenever they are away from their home or vehicle.

A useful principle is:

Home kit + Vehicle kit + Portable kit where practical

The purpose is to put emergency equipment where the assistance-animal team actually spends time.

A kit at home provides little assistance if an emergency occurs several hours away.

Likewise, a vehicle kit may be inaccessible when the team is:

• using public transport;
• walking;
• at work;
• studying;
• attending an event;
• shopping;
• travelling; or
• otherwise away from the vehicle.

The portable kit does not necessarily need to contain everything in the larger home or vehicle kit.

Its contents can reflect:

• the animal;
• activity;
• expected time away;
• environment;
• distance from veterinary care;
• known health considerations; and
• individual risk assessment.

Handler Knowledge Is as Important as Handler Equipment

The same principle applies to handlers:

Owning the kit is not enough.

Handlers should know:

• what is in their kit;
• what the items are intended for;
• how to safely use equipment appropriate to their training;
• what they should not attempt;
• when veterinary assistance is required; and
• how to access that assistance.

Handlers should also understand that their household human first aid kit is not an adequate substitute for an animal first aid kit.

Products and medications intended for humans should never automatically be assumed safe for their assistance animal.

Encourage handlers to undertake appropriate animal first aid education.

They should also have an appropriate animal first aid manual, app or other reliable reference readily accessible.

Where possible, the reference should accompany the kit or be installed on a phone or device the handler routinely carries.

Handlers should regularly:

• check expiry dates;
• replace used items;
• replace damaged products;
• check sterile packaging;
• update veterinary details;
• update emergency contacts; and
• review whether the kit still reflects the animal’s needs.

An accessible recurring reminder on a phone, calendar or other system may assist some handlers to remember kit checks.

Emergency Evacuation and Grab-and-Go Kits

An animal first aid kit and an emergency evacuation or grab-and-go kit are not the same thing.

A first aid kit is primarily intended to assist with injury or illness.

A grab-and-go kit helps meet the assistance animal’s essential needs if the team needs to evacuate or is displaced because of an emergency.

Commercial pet grab-and-go kits are available, or handlers can assemble their own.

Assistance-animal handlers should have an emergency plan that includes their animal and should prepare appropriate emergency supplies before they are needed.

As a general guide, emergency planning should provide for at least 72 hours and preferably longer where practicable, with the current recommendations of the relevant State, Territory and local emergency authorities taking precedence.

Depending on current emergency-service guidance and local risk, several days of supplies may be recommended.

A grab-and-go kit might include:

• non-perishable food normally eaten by the animal;
• drinking water;
• food and water bowls;
• feeding equipment;
• animal first aid kit;
• medications;
• medication instructions;
• veterinary information;
• vaccination or other relevant records;
• regular and emergency veterinary contact details;
• spare collar;
• spare lead;
• harness;
• assistance-animal identification or documentation;
• microchip information;
• recent photograph of the animal;
• photograph of the handler and animal together;
• toileting supplies;
• paper towels;
• cleaning supplies;
• bedding;
• blanket;
• familiar comfort item;
• treats where appropriate;
• specialist equipment required by the animal; and
• instructions about the animal’s care if another person unexpectedly needs to assist.

Emergency Planning Must Be Practical and Accessible

A checklist alone does not make an emergency plan functional.

For example, several days of water for a large assistance dog may be physically difficult for a disabled handler to carry.

Consider:

• Can the handler physically carry the kit?
• Can supplies be divided between a portable kit, vehicle and home?
• Can equipment attach to a wheelchair or mobility device?
• Is another person available to assist?
• Is backup equipment stored elsewhere?
• How will food and water be rotated?
• How will refrigerated medication be managed?
• Can the handler evacuate with the animal and equipment?
• What if their usual vehicle is unavailable?
• What if roads are closed?
• Where can the team evacuate?
• What happens if the handler becomes medically unwell?
• Who can care for the animal if the handler temporarily cannot?

This is an area in which Occupational Therapy can make a particularly important contribution through consideration of function, accessibility, environment, equipment, routines and practical implementation.

Emergency information may need to be available in:

• Easy Read;
• large print;
• pictorial format;
• accessible digital format;
• screen-reader compatible format;
• audio;
• emergency cards;
• tactile or other accessible identification systems; or
• another format appropriate to the handler.

Your Location Changes What You Need

There is no single emergency kit appropriate for every assistance-animal team in Australia.

Emergency planning should reflect where the team:

• lives;
• works;
• travels; and
• spends time in the community.

Practitioners and handlers should check emergency-preparedness guidance from relevant authorities for their location, such as:

• State or Territory Emergency Services;
• Rural or Country Fire Services;
• fire and rescue services;
• local councils;
• emergency-management agencies; and
• relevant animal emergency-management services.

Different locations may require preparation for:

• bushfire;
• flooding;
• cyclone;
• extreme heat;
• severe storms;
• prolonged power failure;
• extreme cold;
• isolation;
• road closures;
• remote-area travel; or
• other locally significant hazards.

Local authorities may recommend additional equipment that would not ordinarily appear in a commercial pet first aid kit.

For example, emergency planning in bushfire-prone areas may include appropriate protective equipment and woollen blankets in emergency or vehicle kits.

Do not assume that a commercially prepared kit contains everything required for your circumstances.

Check your local emergency-service guidance and adapt your equipment and plan accordingly.

Maintain Your Grab-and-Go Kit Too

Emergency evacuation equipment also needs regular maintenance.

Check:

• food expiry dates;
• stored water;
• medications;
• first aid products;
• batteries;
• veterinary records;
• identification;
• emergency contacts;
• assistance-animal documentation;
• seasonal equipment; and
• whether the contents still meet the team’s needs.

Review the kit when there is a significant change in:

• animal health;
• medication;
• diet;
• handler needs;
• residence;
• workplace;
• vehicle;
• travel patterns; or
• local emergency risks.

For handlers, a useful preparedness model is:

Home First Aid Kit + Vehicle First Aid Kit + Portable First Aid Kit Where Practical + Grab-and-Go Kit + Emergency Plan

Free WAFA Animal First Aid Learning

WAFA provides a free online Animal First Aid unit for assistance-animal handlers and their families.

The resource has been developed by appropriately qualified professionals and tailored to assistance-animal teams.

It draws upon the nationally recognised ACMGEN309 Provide Basic Animal First Aid unit while focusing on knowledge and practical considerations particularly relevant to assistance-animal handlers.

AAOT practitioners may recommend this resource, or other appropriate free or low-cost animal first aid education, as part of supporting handlers to develop emergency preparedness.

Completion of an informal educational resource should not be represented as completion of the nationally recognised unit unless the person has completed that unit through an appropriately authorised Registered Training Organisation.

First Aid Is Only the First Step

First aid is not veterinary medicine.

It is not medical treatment beyond the responder’s training and role.

It is not a substitute for professional assessment.

In an emergency, your role may be as simple as:

Recognise → Respond → Protect → Contact → Transfer

Recognise that something is wrong.

Respond with first aid you are competent to provide.

Protect the person and animal from further harm.

Contact the appropriate medical or veterinary service.

Transfer to appropriate professional care where required.

We will explore these issues in considerably greater depth later in the AAOT Credential.

For now, the important message is simple:

Do not wait until the emergency unit to become emergency-ready.

From the beginning:

• have separate, appropriate human and animal first aid equipment available;
• know what is in each kit and how to use it;
• never assume that a human first aid product or medication is safe for an animal;
• keep a reliable first aid manual or app accessible;
• know where to obtain emergency medical and veterinary assistance;
• maintain your equipment through a regular checking procedure;
• prepare for local emergency and evacuation risks; and
• ensure that the assistance-animal teams you support are also prepared.

You will build substantially on this foundation as you progress through AAOT.

Research Your Local Requirements

Take some time now to research how these situations are managed where you live and intend to practise.

Identify the current requirements, authorities and services relevant to your State or Territory and local council area, including:

• found, lost and roaming animals;
• local cat requirements;
• injured and deceased animals;
• wildlife rescue;
• animal cruelty and neglect reporting;
• livestock and invasive species;
• veterinary and emergency veterinary services;
• biosecurity and infectious-disease reporting;
• current animal-health or biosecurity alerts; and
• relevant emergency and specialist animal-rescue services.

Save useful contacts, websites and resources somewhere you can find them quickly. Consider creating a simple Local Animal Emergency and Biosecurity Resource for your future practice.

Add It to Your AAOT Professional Portfolio

This research can form part of your AAOT Professional Portfolio where it meaningfully demonstrates your learning and professional preparedness.

You might include your local contact list, relevant legislation or council requirements, biosecurity resources, a local referral directory, an emergency-response flowchart, or a brief reflection on what you discovered and how it may affect your future AAOT practice.

You can continue to update and develop this resource throughout the Credential as you learn more, encounter new services, receive feedback or identify changes in legislation, local procedures or biosecurity risks.

The aim is not simply to show that you researched the topic. The aim is to create something useful that you could actually use in professional practice.

Product and Supplier Disclaimer

Product and supplier recommendations provided throughout the AAOT Credential are included solely as examples of resources familiar to WAFA or commonly encountered within relevant professional or assistance-animal settings.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, WAFA:

• does not receive commission;
• does not receive referral fees;
• does not receive sponsorship;
• does not receive financial or other benefits from these recommendations; and
• does not require participants or handlers to purchase from a particular supplier.

Inclusion of a product, brand or supplier does not constitute an exclusive endorsement or imply that equivalent products are unsuitable.

Participants and handlers may select equivalent products from suppliers of their choice.

References to particular first aid products, medications, equipment, applications or emergency resources are provided for general educational and preparedness purposes only and do not constitute individual medical or veterinary advice.

Product suitability may vary according to the person, animal, species, health status, circumstances and emergency involved. Participants and handlers should follow their current first aid training, product instructions where appropriate, relevant emergency-service guidance, and advice from appropriately qualified medical or veterinary professionals.

Never administer medication to an animal merely because it is contained in, or available alongside, a human first aid kit.

The important consideration is whether equipment is appropriate, accessible, maintained, understood and suitable for the risks and circumstances in which it may actually be needed.