If you are bitten, scratched or cut when working around animals, you should:

• A. None of these.
• B. Wash thoroughly with water and a disinfecting soap, then notify your supervisor.
• C. Just wipe the blood off and bandage if needed.
• D. Quickly rinse out the area.

Answer: (B)

Immediate wound care after any bite, scratch, or cut around animals is essential to reduce infection risk and ensure proper follow-up. Thoroughly washing the area with water and a disinfecting soap removes contaminants and lowers the bacterial load, while notifying your supervisor triggers occupational health review for further care, tetanus status, and potential rabies or post-exposure prophylaxis if indicated. Quick rinsing or just wiping and bandaging misses the necessary cleaning and reporting steps, and skipping these steps can delay important medical evaluation and documentation.