Recover animals from anaesthesia in a Home Office designated establishment
Overview
This standard covers recovering animals from anaesthesia following an anaesthetic procedure in a Home Office designated establishment.
When working with research animals recognise humanity’s obligation to them and your responsibility for ensuring their proper care and treatment at all times.
You will be able to reduce and stop the anaesthetic, disconnect and place the animal in a suitable environment and recovery position and provide suitable assistance to aid recovery. You will also be able to monitor the animal for problems throughout its recovery.
This standard is for licensed animal technologists in Home Office designated establishments.
It is essential that you work strictly within the limits of both your personal licence and the relevant project licence.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- confirm that your work is carried out in accordance with the approved codes of practice and the organisation’s procedures and within the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience
- carry out all work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, codes of practice and the organisation’s policies
- assess the risks to health and safety before starting and throughout the activity
- comply with legislation, codes of practice and the organisation’s policies relating to the care and welfare of animals in a Home Office designated establishment
- use safe practices and the correct clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the activity
- maintain the required levels of hygiene and biosecurity in accordance with the organisation’s procedures
- implement infection-control measures and use aseptic techniques in accordance with the organisation’s procedures
- maintain communication with colleagues and all those involved in, or affected by, your work
- reduce and stop the anaesthetic at the correct stages
- carefully remove or disconnect surgical or anaesthetic equipment, and materials not required for recovery, from the animal
- place the animal in an environment and recovery position suitable for its species and the procedures that have been undertaken
- use suitable methods to optimise recovery
- monitor and record the animal’s recovery carefully at the required intervals and take action to resolve any problems or bring them to the attention of an appropriate person
- recognise signs of pain or distress in the animal
- minimise pain and distress in the animal through the provision of appropriate nursing care and treatment
- keep accurate records on the use of anaesthetic procedures which are accessible to authorised people
- conduct all activities within the provisions and standard conditions of your personal licence or the project licence
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, codes of practice and the organisation’s policies
- your responsibilities for the care and welfare of animals in a Home Office designated establishment under the relevant animal welfare legislation and Home Office codes of practice
- the reasons for using animals in scientific research and humanity’s responsibilities to them
- the importance and correct use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when carrying out activities in a Home Office designated establishment
- the importance of maintaining appropriate levels of hygiene and biosecurity and the procedures for this
- the appropriate infection-control measures and aseptic techniques for different types of anaesthetic procedures
- the required outcome following the anaesthetic procedure
- the correct stages of reducing and stopping anaesthesia and why it is important these are followed
- the correct procedures for disconnecting animals from anaesthetic equipment, materials and gases
- the environmental conditions suitable for animals in recovery after anaesthesia
- the recovery positions for different types of animal and different procedures
- the methods that can be used to ensure a smooth and rapid recovery of animals from anaesthesia
- how to monitor animals, the required frequency, and the specific indications of problems for different types of animal and different procedures
- how to recognise and minimise pain and distress to animals during recovery
- why it is important to accurately record anaesthetic procedures, the organisation’s procedures for this and who should have access to them
- the provisions and standard conditions of your personal licence and the provisions of the project licence
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Indications of problems in animals could include (depending on the species):
• pain
• distress
• vomiting
• gastric reflux
• inability to perform normal body functions
• haemorrhaging
• wound opening
• change in body temperature
Methods to aid recovery of animals from anaesthesia could include:
• heat blankets
• analgesia
• reversal agents
• access to food and water
• fluid replacement
• environmental conditions