Identification should include

• definition of first aid and triage
• examples of situations and conditions that require first aid (e.g., wound, breathing difficulty, hyperthermia, bleeding, burn, poisoning, reaction to insect sting, seizure)
• ways to prioritize common emergencies

• examples of situations and conditions that require immediate veterinary intervention
• ways to determine whether a situation or condition requires first aid or veterinary intervention

• the importance of discussing any abnormality with a veterinarian or veterinary technician
• ways to take an adequate history from a client including timeline and previous care. 

Teacher Resource: Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation (RECOVER) Initiative

Process/Skill Questions:

• What should be the first thing a veterinary assistant does when assessing an animal's condition?
• What signs might be seen in a pet that has been stung by an insect?
• How would an animal with heat exhaustion look?
• How could a veterinary assistant differentiate between arterial and venous bleeding?
• Why should any dog hit by a car be taken to a veterinarian even if it appears to be unhurt after the accident?
• What signs would indicate that an animal is experiencing breathing difficulty?