To help pet owners in bushfire impacted areas learn vital first aid skills for pets, RSPCA Victoria is offering a virtual animal first aid course, Focused First Aid for Pets. Held on Sunday 6 December at 2pm, the course is free to members of bushfire impacted communities and funded by money raised in RSPCA Victoria’s Bushfire appeal.
Many pet owners would panic if their pet was involved in an accident, however, learning basic first aid skills for pets can mean the difference between life and death.
Focused First Aid for Pets is a 1 hour 30-minute webinar focused on providing participants with the best information available, to be better placed to help a pet in the case of an emergency situation.
The course will be led by Belinda Marchbank, Education & Learning Officer at RSPCA Victoria, and a veterinary nurse with many years’ experience. Ms Marchbank said the course provides necessary tools for all pet owners.
“In addition to teaching pet owners the basics of pet first aid, the course covers important preparation required in the event of evacuation during emergency events such as bushfire along with treatment for burns and heat exhaustion.
Focused First Aid for Pets provides people with important knowledge that will support them to act without panic and do the best they can for their pets in the case of an emergency,” said Ms Marchbank.
As pet owners prepare for the spring and summer seasons ahead, the course also provides advice about a range of scenarios which are common in the warmer months. This includes how to pick up on the warning signs of heat stress and how to avoid it, what to do if a pet is bitten by a snake and how to manage insect bites.
Participants will hear about CPR, bandaging, how to monitor a pet’s vital signs and react appropriately along with the importance of pet first aid kits and how to improvise with common household items.
RSPCA Victoria’s Focused First Aid for Pets course also provides basic knowledge about how to care for a pet that has been injured by a car and the steps to take when travelling to seek veterinary care.
The course is comprised of a one-hour presentation plus a question-and-answer session to ensure participants understand the information provided. Designed to ensure attendees finish the course equipped to better manage in the case of an emergency, everyone will have the opportunity to seek clarification and expert advice.
Participants will also receive relevant and easy to understand information in a handy booklet for future reference.
Offered free of charge to members of bushfire impacted communities and areas prone to bushfires, the Focused Fist Aid for Pets virtual course is usually $49.00 per participant. Online bookings are available .
