School District #38
Safe Work Practices: infection Control
Standard Precautions for Personal Care
Routine Infection Control Practices Requirements
Risk Assessment
Risk of infections should be assessed so that appropriate infection prevention and control
practices can be implemented to limit exposure to that risk.
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Student medical information provided by the parents, reviewed by VCH school nurses
and the Richmond Support program provides assessment and direction for appropriate
procedures to follow. Provided in the Care Plans.
The Vancouver Coastal Health publication: Sneezes and Diseases A Resource Book for
Caregivers and Parents is a resource for providers in child care setting for teachers in
elementary schools and parents which provides information on the common childhood
infections and diseases or infestations fact sheets. Please refer to RichNet Health and
safety conference: Communicable diseases for the most recent copy of the publication
Self Care
Handwashing, when done correctly, is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of
communicable diseases. Communication and age appropriate education programs for staff,
students and parents/guardians play an important role in the control of the transmission of
viruses in schools.
Staff and students will be taught and encouraged to;
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Stay home when sick
Practice cough and sneeze etiquette
Use the correct hand washing technique,
Practice frequent hand cleaning (i.e. after sneezing or coughing, before and after eating,
after recreation/play times, after going to the washroom etc.) and,
Take care of themselves when caring for someone who is ill.
Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette
Hand hygiene and covering coughs and sneezes with one’s sleeve are important means of
preventing the transmission of viruses. All schools will ensure that every student receives direct
instruction in an age-appropriate way for correct hand washing techniques. Teachers will
instruct students in correct hand washing techniques and will manage the classroom in the
elementary grades so that daily time for hand washing occurs. Recommended classroom
intervals for hand hygiene are: after recess and playground visits, before eating, after toileting,
and after computer use.
It should be noted that hand washing with plain soap and water is the preferred method of hand
hygiene in schools as the mechanical action is effective at removing visible soil as well as
microbes. Cold water is sufficient for handwashing purposes. In instances where hand washing
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School District #38
Safe Work Practices: infection Control
sinks are not available, use of alcohol based hand sanitizers may be considered. If hands are
visibly soiled, alcohol based hand sanitizers may not be effective at eliminating the influenza
virus.
Information for distribution on hand hygiene and cough etiquette can be found at:
http://www.fightflu.ca/ and at http://www.gov.bc.ca/h1n1/backtoschool/index.html. Posters have
been sent to school sites to renew handwashing signage. Additional Age appropriate
educational materials have been assembled and can be found on RichNet Health and Safety
Conference and from the assigned School Nurse.
Infection Control Practices:
Routine infection control practices must be followed by all staff even when no there is no sign of
infection. Routine infection control practices help reduce the chance of infection from spreading
from one person to another.
1. Wash your hands:
a. before and after direct student care
b. Immediately after removing personal protective equipment e.g. gloves
c. Before and after handling or preparing food
d. After contact with blood or body fluids
e. After contact with items likely to be contaminated with blood or body fluids
f. Frequently during your shift.
2. Use personal protective equipment provided:
a. Use disposable gloves when handling blood or body fluids, when cleaning cuts or
scrapes or when changing a diaper
b. Gowns and aprons should be worn to protect uncovered skin and prevent soiling
of clothing during activities or procedures that are likely to generate splashes or
spray of blood, body fluids, secretions And excretions
c. Eye protections, face shields should be worn to protect mucous membranes of
the eyes, nose and mouth during procedures and activities that are likely to
generate splashes or spray of blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions.
Choose eyewear that protects eye from all directions.
d. N95 particulate respirator (a rated disposable dust mask) for communicable
infections spread by airborne route requires fit testing to ensure a correct fit.
3. Clean and sanitize diaper changing areas between uses
4. Keep toilets and other surfaces visibly clean
5. Do not share personal items such as hair brushes, toothbrushes, towels, facecloths, or
hats
6. Wash laundry using detergent and warm water. Soiled clothing can be put into a plastic
bag. Tie the bag closed. Send the clothes home to be washed.
7. During disease outbreaks, follow the guidance of public health about additional steps to
take control of the spread of disease
8. Separate sick children from well children
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School District #38
Safe Work Practices: infection Control
9. Clean and sanitize all client care equipment instruments and devises according to
required guidelines
10. Waste disposal – sharps to be disposed of in sharps container.
11. Environmental Cleaning
a. Horizontal/high touch surfaces such as work counters, need to be cleaned daily
and when visibly soiled. These surfaces may also require low level disinfection
depending on the procedure being done.
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