The purpose of these guidelines is to provide information which will promote safety for instructors and students when reptiles are brought into the classroom. Many times, inadequate understanding of reptile disease and behavior can lead to unnecessary risks for the children and animals alike. These guidelines are designed to promote a better understanding of:
I. Animals Which Are UNACCEPTABLE for School Visits
A. Poisonous Animals - Spiders, venomous insects, and poisonous snakes, reptiles, toads, frogs and lizards should be prohibited from being brought onto school grounds.
B. Aggressive Reptiles - Animals which have demonstrated aggression toward humans and/or animals in the past should not be permitted on school campuses. Aggressive, unprovoked, or threatening behavior will mandate the animal's immediate removal.
II. General Guidelines for Animals Which Are Permitted to Visit Schools
It is important that reptiles which are brought onto school campuses be clean and healthy so that the risk of their transmitting diseases to students is minimal. Children tend to be more susceptible to zoonotic diseases and parasites than do adults (lack of hand washing, more apt to put their hands in their mouths), therefore, reptiles which they handle should be clean and well groomed and free of internal and external parasites, disease, etc. Visiting reptiles should be restricted to an area designated by the principal or administrator.
A. Because reptiles may react strangely to classroom situations, it is important to have an effective way to control them. Fear may cause a reptile to attempt to escape or even act aggressively in situations which are unusual to them. Appropriate restraint devices will allow the holder to react quickly and prevent harm to the students or the reptile.
B. Designated Areas - All reptiles should be restricted to the area designated by the pricipal or administrator. In school facilities in which the common dining are is also used as an auditorium, gymnasium, or multi-purpose room, reptiles may be allowed in the area at times other than during meals if:
III. Special Conditions for Specific Animals
A. Reptiles and Amphibians - Because all reptiles and amphibians can carry salmonellosis, even when reared as pets for display, special precautions should be instituted when school children handle them. School children under 12 years of age should be prohibited from handling reptiles and amphibians. No turtles with a carapase length of less than four inches are allowed in schools. Any child handling a reptile or amphibian should be instructed to wash their hands thoroughly afterwards.
IV. Student Contact With Animals
A. Even very tame reptiles may react aggressively in strange situations; therefore, student contact with reptiles should always be supervised and regulated by a few basic rules.
B. Because increased activity and sudden movements can make reptiles feel threatened, all student contact with reptiles should be highly organized and supervised.
C. It is not recommended that children be allowed to feed reptiles directly from their hands.
D. Children should be discouraged from "kissing" reptiles or having them in close contact with their faces. This statement is especially true for reptiles and amphibians.
E. Education with reptiles should be used to re-emphasize proper hygiene and hand washing recommendations. All children who handle animals should be instructed to wash their hands immediately after handling them.
F. Reptiles should not be allowed in the vicinity of sinks where children wash their hands, or in any are where food is prepared, stored, or served, or in areas used for the cleaning or storage of food utensils or dishes. Reptiles should also be restricted from nursing stations or sterile and clean supply rooms.
G. Immunocompromised students may be especially susceptible to zoonotic diseases; therefor, special precautions may be needed to minimize the risk of disease transmission to these students. Consultation with the child's parents about precautionary measures is strongly advised. Recommendations for specific precautionary measures may also be solicited from the Alabama Department of Public Health's Division of Epidemiology.
V. Handling and Disposal of Animal Wastes While on School Campuses
A. Clean Up of Reptile Wastes - Children should not be allowed to handle or clean up any form of reptile waste (feces, urine, blood, etc.). Reptile wastes should be disposed of where children can not come in contact with them, such as a plastic bag or container with a lid or via the sewage system for feces. Food handlers should not be involved in the cleanup of any animal waste.
B. Prohibited Areas - Reptile wastes should not be disposed of , and visiting reptiles should not be allowed to defecate in or near areas where children routinely play or congregate.
VI. Humane Treatment
To avoid the intentional or unintentional abuse, mistreatment, or neglect of reptiles, the humane care and husbandry recommendation of the National Science Teachers Association and the National Association of Biology Teachers should be adopted.
VII. Conclusion
Reptiles can serve as excellent teaching tools and students love to have them visit the classroom. When using reptiles as an instructional aid, the objective should always be well planned in advance. By following the above recommendations, the use of reptiles in the classroom can be made safer for both the reptiles and the children.
For more information on having a reptile exhibit visit your school or classroom contact: Edward Craft, ReptiCare Services, 511 Humes Avenue, N.E., Huntsville, AL 35801, (205) 536-0999 or E-Mail at: ReptiCare@aol.com.
