Learn Basic Animal First Aid
In this science activity, kids learn two basic methods of animal first aid.
A veterinarian is a doctor that takes care of many different types of animals. Most people are familiar with veterinarians that take care of pets, such as cats and dogs. But vets also take care of farm animals, such as cows and chickens, and even wild animals like lions, turtles, bears and pelicans. Vets provide these animals with the medical attention they need to get better if they are sick. They also give animals yearly check-ups and vaccination to make sure that the animals stay healthy, just like doctors do for people. Vets can work anywhere from animal hospitals, to zoos, and even wildlife refuges.
Materials
Instructions
Safety note: Only practice these activities with stuffed animals. Your live furry friends will not appreciate your pushing and pulling on them!
Learn to stop a bleeding wound:
Decide what part of your stuffed animal is bleeding and mark with a red sticker, piece of tape or similar.
Put a folded piece of gauze or tissue on the area that is “bleeding” and apply pressure.
Wrap a strip of gauze (or strip of old sheet or toilet paper) around this area to keep the folded piece of gauze in place. Tape the end of the gauze to keep it in place.
Learn to splint a broken leg:
Decide which of your stuffed animal's legs is broken and mark with a sticker or tape.
Immobilize the animal so it cannot move its broken leg.
Hold a jumbo popsicle stick (or similar) on either side of the leg, then wrap the strips of fabric (or toilet paper or similar) around the leg to keep the jumbo popsicle sticks in place and tie or tape to secure.
