OPERATION CATNIP: Idealism in Action

Instruments

Staffing:	1	Cleaner
	1	Packer
	1	Transporter

ALL STAFF MUST CHECK IN AT THE VOLUNTEER TABLE.

GLOVES MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES.

The responsibilities of the Instrument Station are to collect and clean dirty instruments from the various stations in the clinic; wrap, label, and sterilize complete instrument packs; obtain clean surgery towels from the Spay Stations; and launder dirty towels.

Cleaner Instructions

The Instrument Station Cleaner is responsible for cleaning and sterilizing all surgical instruments and laundering surgical towels.

1) COVER counters with plastic when you arrive.

2) WASH dirty instruments.

1) SCRUB in liquid soap and hot water, paying special attention to the teeth and joints where blood collects.

2) SOAK the clean instruments in dilute instrument milk for 5 minutes.

3) DRAIN instruments in trays. Do not rinse or towel dry.

4) SORT the instruments in the trays by type and tape color.

3) WASH, dry and fold surgical linen.

1) FLATTEN half the towels for wrapping spay, neuter and ear tip packs.

2) FOLD the rest in 4 folds lengthwise then in thirds for spay packs.

4) PLACE bins of wrapped and labeled packs in an autoclave tray then into the autoclave. Set the machine for 1 hr of sterilization & 10 minutes dry time, in a “gravity” setting. Begin autoclaving as soon as the first autoclave tray is full.

5) PUT cooled packs in the Supply Room.

6) CLEAN-UP sweep/vacuum your area including laundry/autoclave room; wash tables; wipe counters; bag all trash and take to the dumpster; mop the area until no cat odor remains.

7) REPACK the kit, inventory supplies (see Supply List in the kit).

8) RETURN the kit and any extra items to the Supply Coordinator.

Instruments

Packer Instructions

The Instrument Station Packer is responsible for compiling, wrapping and labeling complete instrument packs for the Spay, Neuter and Ear Tip Stations.

1) CUT paper drape sheets to approximately 30” X 30”. Fold accordion-style and then in thirds.

2) CUT autoclave paper:

Ø 12 - 30” X 30” sheets (for Neuter and Ear Tip packs)

Ø 100 - 24” X 24” sheets (for Spay packs)

3) CHECK towels and wraps to be sure there is no blood or urine.

4) FILL the station packs. Instruments that look similar are not interchangeable. See the diagrams of completed packs (also included in the Instrument Station kit). Never wrap up an incomplete pack.

Ear Tip Pack (see pictures)

1) STACK in tall metal trays:

Ø 1 sharp/sharp scissor – red tape

Ø 1 straight hemostat – orange tape

Ø 1 paper towel between each layer

2) LAYER 50 pairs of instruments per pack.

3) WRAP with surgical towel and masking tape.

4) WRAP with 30 X 30 autoclave wrap & autoclave tape.

5) LABEL with “Ear Tip Pack” and date.

Neuter Pack (see pictures)

1) STACK in short metal trays:

Ø 1 piece of 4x4 gauze

Ø 1 curved hemostat - blue/green or pink tape

Ø 1 paper towel between each layer

2) LAYER 25 – 50 hemostats and gauze per tray.

3) WRAP with surgical towel and masking tape.

4) WRAP with 30 X 30 autoclave wrap & autoclave tape.

5) LABEL with “Neuter Pack” and date.

Spay Pack (see pictures)

1) PLACE 1 folded cloth towel in center of 1 flat towel.

2) PLACE 2 pieces of 4x4 gauze on the folded towel.

3) PLACE instruments on top of gauze and towels:

Ø 1 needle holder (unlocked) - dark blue tape

Ø 1 pair sharp/sharp scissors - red tape

Ø 1 brown adson forceps - green tape

Ø 1 spay hook - yellow tape

Ø 2 small towel clamps (locked together) - purple tape

Ø 2 curved mosquito hemostats (unlocked) - light blue tape

Ø 2 curved crile forceps (unlocked) - pink tape

4) PUT folded paper drape on top of instruments.

5) FOLD bottom flat towel around entire pack.

6) WRAP in 24” X 24” autoclave wrap and autoclave tape.

7) LABEL with “Spay Pack” and date.

5) PACK carmalts (large curved hemostats with green and blue tape) individually in autoclave pouches. Place curved tips toward the plastic side of the sterilization pouch to prevent poking through the paper. Label and date.

6) PACK individual extra instruments in autoclave pouches, labeled and dated. Pack in 1s and 2s as listed under each type of pack. Have at least 6 of each type.

7) PACK extra 4x4 gauze, 4 or more pieces per autoclave pouch. Label and date. Have at least 6 sets.

8) DISCARD instruments the veterinarians say are faulty.

9) PLACE any extra instruments together in a tray at the end of the day. Do not wrap them.

10) CLEAN-UP sweep/vacuum your area including laundry/autoclave room; wash tables; wipe counters; bag all trash and take to the dumpster; mop the area until no cat odor remains.

Instruments

Transporter Instructions

The responsibilities of the Instrument Transporter are to distribute buckets of soapy water for dirty instruments and collect dirty instruments and surgical towels from the various stations.

1) PREPARE 15 buckets of warm, soapy water when you first arrive. Add a dash of liquid soap and fill half full with hot water.

2) DISTRIBUTE the buckets to each of the Spay Station tables, and the Neuter, Ear Tip, and Medications Stations by the start of the clinic.

3) PLACE baskets for soiled surgical towels and clean autoclave wrap & surgical towels at both ends of the Spay/Neuter supply table, 2 at each end.

4) COLLECT buckets of dirty instruments from the stations throughout the clinic.

5) LEAVE a fresh bucket of soapy water for each one collected.

6) COLLECT the surgical towels and autoclave wrap from the baskets throughout the clinic.

7) SMOOTH and fold autoclave wrap and clean surgical towels for reuse.

8) BEGIN laundering dirty surgical towels as soon as the first basket is full. Dry towels should be stacked in a flat pile in preparation for use in the packs.

9) CLEAN-UP sweep/vacuum your area including laundry/autoclave room; wash tables; wipe counters; bag all trash and take to the dumpster; mop the area until no cat odor remains.