In order to receive board approval for a euthanasia
technician training course that will be taught on or after July 1, 2009, the
euthanasia instructor shall submit a written request for approval to the board
along with 12 copies of the instructor's manual, the course curriculum and a
description of the test administered by the instructor. Courses will be
approved until such time as the board revokes the approval. Approved courses
will subject to annual review. The curriculum shall include the
following.
A. animal anatomy and
physiology as related to euthanasia;
B. euthanasia: the history, current
standards, stages of euthanasia, best practices;
C. euthanasia by injection: acceptable sites
(advantages, disadvantages, criteria for selecting which site), restraint for
each type of injection, injection techniques and mechanics of each technique,
acceptable euthanasia drugs, best practices;
D. pre-euthanasia anesthesia: uses, stages of
anesthesia, criteria for judging depth of anesthesia, drugs for this use,
administration sites and methods, best practices;
E. verification of death: proper and accurate
methods of verification of death;
F. pharmaceuticals: controlled and
non-controlled substances (types, method of actions, uses), dosage
calculations, security and storage of both types of drugs, record keeping, drug
logs, controlled substance logs, labeling of drug mixtures, material safety
data sheets (MSDS sheets), inventory management;
G. proper disposal techniques: euthanized
animals, drug waste, expired drugs, sharps, biohazardous or infectious
waste;
H. euthanasia by
non-injection method: criteria for choosing case for non-injection
method;
I. emergency field
euthanasia: methods and best practices for emergency field
euthanasia;
J. animal handling:
humane handling techniques, techniques to reduce animal stress, restraint of
wild or unsocialized animals, humane capture techniques for in-facility
escapes;
K. species other than dogs
and cats: restraint techniques, acceptable and best euthanasia techniques for
each species, public health concerns, rabies (description of disease, signs,
submission procedures);
L.
euthanasia room: equipment and supplies (use and location), backup equipment,
setup, lighting, safety measures; and
M. staff health and safety concerns: zoonotic
disease, emergency equipment (use, location), sharps handling and disposal,
work place safety, safety equipment and apparel, eye wash station; compassion
fatigue and euthanasia-related stress (recognition, reduction techniques,
professional services).
