First Aid training is critical for all professional dog groomers! Want to add this important certification to your resume? QC Pet Studies student, Camille Torkornoo, is here to discuss why you need to enroll in QC’s First Aid for Groomers Course!
Camille’s business, Mount Zion Kennels, specializes in grooming and breeding standard Poodles. To learn more about Camille and her journey as a dog groomer, check out her Student Feature!
When working with live animals, accidents are sometimes bound to happen. This is exactly why it’s VERY important to know how to deal with them. Luckily, QC Pet Studies created their online First Aid for Groomers Course for this very purpose. This 2-unit program covers everything you need to know about First Aid for the animals you work with.
From caring for common, minor injuries, to responding to major medical emergencies – this course will go over it all. The goal? Once you’ve graduated from this course, you’ll be fully prepared for any type of emergency you could possibly encounter in the grooming industry!
Key Lessons You’ll Learn in QC Pet Studies’ First Aid Course
1 – Navigating Potential Hazards in a Grooming Salon
One of the very first topics QC Pet Studies covers in their First Aid for Groomers Course is the many different types of accidents that can occur within a grooming salon. Some examples include (but are not limited to):
- Sprains;
- Fractures;
- Minor and major wounds;
- Types of parasites, etc.
First, sprains and fractures are not uncommon for dogs. Any breed, age, and size can sustain these types of injuries. However, overweight and senior dogs are especially susceptible to them. QC’s First Aid training goes over the various ways that groomers can recognize, prevent, and properly treat sprains and fractures if they occur.
Secondly, minor wounds – such as nicks, scratches, and abrasions – are also fairly common. This makes sense when you factor in the tools used in your day-to-day tasks. Major wounds, on the other hand, can be a lot more serious. Common examples of more serious wounds include punctures, deeps cuts, and any other injury that causes heavy bleeding. Obviously, your professional groomer training will help you prevent a lot of these injuries. But sometimes, things happen. This is why it’s important to know how to deal with them!
Lastly, parasites are another thing you’ll often come across as a dog groomer. The two most common ones you’ll deal with are fleas and ticks. QC Pet Studies’ First Aid Course will cover everything you need to know about parasites and how to safely deal with them.
Of course, this program also covers many other possible injuries and incidents that can – and likely will – happen throughout your career. While I’ve only listed a few examples, just know that there is a LOT more information this training will teach you!
2 – Assessing and Preventing Risks
QC Pet Studies also covers how groomers can properly and effectively prevent, prepare for, assess, and respond to the many injuries that may occur on the job. Risk management is a major component of First Aid knowledge. Ideally, you want to train your eye so you can foresee accidents before they happen. But when things are beyond your control (as is sometimes the case), the next best step is knowing how to mitigate the situation in the safest way possible.
The other thing about risk management is that you don’t ONLY want to learn about potential risks to the dogs’ health. Rather, it’s just as important that you understand the potential workplace hazards that can put your own safety at risk. The good news is, QC Pet Studies also teaches you about this in the First Aid Course!
3 – Putting Together a Proper First Aid Kit
In order to apply proper First Aid practices, you’re going to need to have a reliable First Aid kit in your work space. Not sure how to build one or what items should be included? No problem!
QC’s First Aid for Groomers Course covers everything you need to know! You’ll learn how to put together a proper kit, so you can always treat wounds and injuries to the best of your ability. There’s a quiz in Unit A that will help guide you in the right direction. Moreover, there’s even a Self-Study assignment (with TWO exercises) that’ll help you begin building your very own First Aid kit.
QC Pet Studies’ First Aid Training: Helpful Assignments
One thing I particularly appreciated about QC Pet Studies’ First Aid Course were the assignments. Every assignment perfectly complements the lessons being taught in the textbooks, expands on them, and rounds out your training.
Personally, one of my favorite assignments was the Self-Study homework on how to stay calm during an emergency. It’s easy to become stressed, panicked, and overwhelmed during an emergency. But if you’re prepared and know how to stay calm, you’ll be able to respond and treat the emergency in the most appropriate way.
This assignment goes over different breathing exercises that can help reduce stress. If ever under duress while on the job, these breathing exercises will help calm you down. I also appreciated how this Self-Study encourages students to reflect on past responses to stressful situations. This way, you can mentally prepare yourself and improve upon your responses during future emergencies.
Another great assignment included in QC Pet Studies’ First Aid for Groomers Course is the 4th Self-Study assignment in Unit B. This assignment deals with identifying medical emergencies. First, you’re given several different emergency scenarios. Next, you need to outline how you would respond to that emergency, based off of what you’ve learned. Finally, you’re then asked to go back and compare your response to the suggested response provided within the textbook.
I found this exercise to be extremely beneficial! It helps you, as the groomer, assess your ability to identify, think through, and respond to the different medical emergencies and/or health conditions you might experience.
All in all, I highly recommend that every groomer take this First Aid Course offered by QC Pet Studies. Knowing how to prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergency situations is essential – for not only the safety of the animals you work with, but also for you as a groomer!
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