Bloodborne Pathogens For Non- Healthcare Workers
In today's environment of health issues, communicable diseases and other health
related topics, it's important to understand some of the potential hazards we all
have on a daily basis. These potential hazards exist at work, at home and
everywhere you go, so you need to know how to protect yourself from these
hazards.
In this program, we'll concentrate on what is called bloodborne pathogens.
Bloodborne pathogens means pathogenic microorganisms that are present in
human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but
are not limited to, hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus or HIV. It's
been in the news for several years and it's a major problem throughout the world.
You may not have heard it called bloodborne pathogens, but you are probably
aware of the term HIV or AIDS.
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. Everyone is well aware that AIDS is a deadly
disease and that everyone with AIDS does die. There is no known cure for AIDS.
HIV or the AIDS virus is a bloodborne pathogen and is transmitted through
sexual contact and exposure to infected blood or blood components. The Human
immunodeficiency virus, or HIV has been isolated and implicated in transmission
only by blood, semen, vaginal secretions and possibly breast milk.
Other potentially infectious materials means other body fluids such as fluids of
the back, heart, pregnancy, lungs and saliva in dental procedures and any body
fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood, or where it is difficult or impossible to
determine body fluid contamination with blood.
Basically, to help reduce exposures, all body fluids should be treated as if
contaminated with blood. In hospitals and health care facilities, all body fluids are
treated as if contaminated with blood or blood products.
What does this mean to you, the person who is not a health care worker,
paramedic or person who normally is not exposed to blood or body fluids
containing blood? If you're a person who doesn't share infected needles with
others or who isn't sexually active with more than one partner, why is this
information important to you?
First of all, you need to understand the hazard, so you can reduce exposure to
blood or blood products. You've seen it many times. An accident happens and a
person begins to bleed and your first reaction is to help the injured person. In an
automobile accident, you may be the first person on the scene and want to assist
the injured persons. It's a natural reaction, but it's something that could cost you
your life, if you don't have the knowledge or information to protect yourself from
these potential hazards.
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Let's say you assist a person who cut his finger and is bleeding. Is the victim
infected with HIV? How do you know? Perhaps the infected person doesn't know
he's infected with HIV or HBV.
The point we're trying to make is that proper protection from bloodborne
pathogens can save your life. Obviously, persons working in health care have
potential occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens because they work
with blood and body fluids that may be contaminated with HIV or other
communicable diseases, so they must take precautions to reduce the risks.
Needle sticks or puncturing your skin with sharp objects contaminated with blood
can cause transmission of these viruses. If you have an opening in your skin and
you get contaminated blood in this opening, the virus could be transmitted to you.
What's the answer? Stop giving first aid assistance or running away when
someone starts to bleed? The answer is to be armed with knowledge and
information, then use that knowledge and information to reduce exposures to
bloodborne pathogens.
Another bloodborne pathogen that is more readily transmitted than HIV, and is a
very serious disease, is Hepatitis B, or HBV. It too is transmitted in the same
manner as HIV, although there is a cure for HBV. If you work in an area where
your job requires you to be exposed to bloodborne pathogens, your employer will
make the hepatitis B vaccine available to you, which greatly reduces your
chances of getting Hepatitis B. For those of you who are not normally exposed to
bloodborne pathogens, there may be no need for the vaccine. It depends upon
your exposure. If you routinely provide first aid or CPR services, you should be
afforded the opportunity of the vaccine, however, it is not mandatory.
That briefly is the potential risk, but now, let's take a few minutes to explain how
you can reduce your exposure to HIV and HBV. We won't talk about sexual
transmission or about IV drug users sharing contaminated needles, but we'll
focus our attention on every day people whose jobs do not require exposure to
bloodborne pathogens. The transmission of these viruses doesn't occur through
casual contact. Many years of experience has shown that if you are aware of the
hazard and take precautions, the risk is small.
Even health care workers who have stuck themselves with contaminated
needles, only about 1 percent become infected with HIV. Health care workers are
trained in emergency action procedures, as well as personal protective and
engineering control measures, so they properly protect themselves from
becoming infected. Those of us who do not work in health care, or who are not
first aid or CPR providers, could be at risk by helping others, or simply not
knowing what to do in the event of an emergency.
First of all, never handle blood or anything contaminated with blood without
personal protection. Generally, that means plastic or latex gloves. Certainly, no
one carries latex gloves with them off the job, so the answer is not to get involved
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with anyone bleeding or handling linen or clothing contaminated with blood
unless you have minimum protection, such as latex gloves. If you were the type
of person who wants to help in case of an emergency, it would be wise to carry
gloves with you in your first aid kit or your automobile. The next step is to wash
your hands immediately if you do come in contact with blood, including washing
your hands
Immediately after removing gloves. Wash your hands thoroughly, using antibacterial soap. After you have used gloves, they cannot be washed and used
again, they must be discarded in proper biohazard bags or containers used
specifically for this purpose. In the event you become exposed to a bloodborne
pathogen, such as cutting your skin with sharp glass that's contaminated with
blood, wash the wound with water and seek emergency medical attention as
quickly as possible.
Quick medical attention is of utmost importance. Before providing mouth-tomouth resuscitation, use a device that prevents skin contact and body fluids from
entering your mouth from the victim. These devices are readily available on the
market.
Quite often, when an injury occurs, equipment and other surfaces are splattered
with blood. This equipment and other surfaces then become contaminated and
must be cleaned and sanitized before reuse.
Let's take a minute to explain the difference between cleaning and sanitizing.
Cleaning is simply using water and soap to clean away the blood from the
equipment or surface. It makes the equipment or surfaces clean, but it does not
kill potential harmful bacteria and microorganisms.
In hospitals and doctor's offices, sterilizing instruments after they have been
cleaned is one method of killing microorganisms, however, this may not be
practical in most cases outside of medical facilities. One effective means of
sanitizing a contaminated surface is to use one-quarter cup of common
household bleach mixed with one gallon of water. This makes an excellent
sanitizer and kills harmful microorganisms. Good housekeeping and hygiene are
important factors in your health, as well as reducing exposures to bloodborne
pathogens.
Some basic tips on housekeeping include inspecting and decontaminating
reusable receptacles such as bins, pails and cans that have a likelihood of
becoming contaminated. Always use mechanical means, such as tongs, forceps
or a brush and a dustpan to pick up contaminated broken glassware, never pick
up broken glass or other sharp objects with your hands, even if you're wearing
gloves.
As a first aid or CPR trained person, there are other considerations, such as
using biohazard waste bags and disposing of contaminated first aid supplies
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according to proper procedures, however, as a person who does not regularly
work as a first aid or CPR provider and you do perform emergency procedures,
be sure to consider blood splattered clothing, used first aid supplies and latex
gloves as hazardous that require proper waste disposal, not simply throwing
them in regular trash.
Good housekeeping, personal hygiene, personal protection and being aware of
the potential hazards can go a long way in preventing exposure to bloodborne
pathogens. If you are assigned jobs that routinely require you to be exposed to
blood, then you'll receive additional training. As a person who isn't normally
exposed, you still need to know how to protect yourself from bloodborne
pathogens because you never know when an emergency may arise. School
teachers providing first aid to school children are exposed, good Samaritans
providing first aid to injured persons are exposed, housekeepers, agriculture
workers, manufacturing, construction, everyone has the potential for exposure.
Protect yourself with gloves anytime you may come in contact with blood, or
contaminated body fluids. Don't take chances. We want to be sure you
understand that transmission of HIV or the AIDS virus isn't going to occur by
casual contact.
Non-infected people have lived in the same house with HIV infected persons for
years without contracting the virus. There's no reason to panic, or to exclude
persons with AIDS from everyday living because the exposure through casual
contact just isn't there. What is important is to understand that transmission of
HIV and HBV comes from contact with blood and contaminated body fluids that
contain these bloodborne pathogens.
If you protect yourself, know the hazards and how to prevent exposure, and then
the risk is minimal. Taking care to wash your hands, maintain good
housekeeping, use disinfectant on contaminated surfaces, wear gloves when
giving first aid and generally using common sense and good judgment in
emergencies is essential in preventing these exposures.
In today's environment, it's just not healthy to take chances. We get skin cancer
from the sun but you can protect your skin. We get lung cancer from smoking,
but there are things you can do to prevent the problem.
There are thousands of exposures to a wide variety of illnesses, but there are
preventative measures. In the case of bloodborne pathogens, knowledge and
good judgment goes a long way to prevent exposure to HIV and HBV. You may
not work in an area where you're exposed, but think about all the times when
you're not at work and an emergency arises. Take the time for safety because
the preventative measures you take, directly relates to your own health and
safety.
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