BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS
How You can protect yourself — “Universal Precautions”
1. ASSUME everyone is infected.
2. Get VACCINATED against Hepatitis B (see Bloodborne Diseases)
3. Use UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS:
COVER any cuts, scrapes or wounds you may have with clean bandages.
AVOID getting stuck by needles and injured by sharp objects.
Use gloves, face shields and/or aprons and other protective equipment (i.e. face shields) to creat BARRIERS between yourself and students whenever there is a possibility of coming into contact with blood or body fluids. (See below regarding gloves.)
Use DISINFECTANTS to kill viruses, such as a combination of one part bleach to 10 parts water. (You should not clean up spills yourself; ask your custodian for help.)
DISCARD items and articles contaminated with blood.
WASH your hands immediately after exposure to blood or a body fluid.*
*The law states that you have a right to non-allergenic and powderless gloves if you have an allergy.
How to Properly Remove Disposable Gloves
1. PULL one glove back by the cuff until it comes off inside-out.
DISCARD or cup it in the palm of your gloved hand.
2. HOOK a finger of your bare hand inside the cuff of the remaining glove.
3. PULL BACK so this glove also comes off inside-out, with the first glove tucked inside it.
4. DISCARD the gloves. Do not reuse and never wash disposable gloves.
5. WASH your hands immediately (microorganisms may enter through minute holes in the gloves).
6. Practice this procedure with clean gloves.