Module 1: First Aid Basics & Checking Vital Signs
Staying Safe First
An injured or frightened animal, even a normally gentle one, may bite or scratch out of pain or fear. Before you help, protect yourself first.
✓Before You Approach
- Approach slowly and speak in a calm, low voice
- Avoid direct eye contact and sudden movements, which animals may perceive as threatening
- Use an improvised muzzle, such as a strip of cloth, gauze, or a leash looped gently around the muzzle and tied behind the ears, on a dog that is in pain
- Never muzzle an animal that is vomiting, choking, or having difficulty breathing
- For cats, wrap the animal snugly in a towel to protect both of you during handling
Your safety comes first. An injured animal that hurts its rescuer helps no one.