Universal precautions are like a set of rules followed in medical circles to ensure that there is no contact between the infected persons blood and bodily fluids with any healthcare personnel. These precautions were formulated to avoid transmission of infection through bloodborne pathogens which is an occupational hazard given the nature of healthcare.

The following 4 points will tell you exactly how to approach and deal with various factors of universal precautions.

– A Standard Assumption: The crux of universal precautions lies in a standard assumption that any blood and body fluids are in fact dangerous. This approach urges all the medical personnel involved to take adequate care while dealing with the patient, blood, instruments and during any medical procedure and treatment. This gives ample protection to the medical staff against bloodborne pathogens like Hepatitis B and C virus and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Furthermore it can be useful against those viruses that may be present in the blood but may exhibit symptoms at a much later stage. Another advantage of this assumption is that healthcare personnel are able to follow a uniform procedure without any kind of discrimination to certain patients or diseases. It is interesting to note that such assumptions gained more traction when blood as a factor for the spread of HIV was clearly established.

– Personal Safety Gear: Healthcare personnel work constantly around patients or materials that may be infected, which poses an ever-present risk of contracting diseases. Wearing proper gear to protect the hands, eyes and face is extremely important at all times as such equipment prevents accidental contact or splashes of blood or fluid during medical procedures. The gear commonly consists of goggles, face shields, gowns and of course gloves. Some of this equipment especially gloves and face masks must also form a part of first aid kits and can be useful for personnel who are administering treatment away from a well-stocked medical center.

– Who Are at Risk?: All healthcare personnel including doctors, nurses and support workers who come in contact with patients, blood and medical materials are at risk of contracting infection and must adopt the universal precautions at all times. Besides encompassing persons providing first aid and follow up treatments such precautions must be taken at all levels including house-keeping staff and laboratory personnel who are constantly testing potentially dangerous samples.

– Proper Disposal: Universal precautions must include proper disposal of unsafe material. Thus getting rid of any kind of contaminated material as per proper procedures is extremely important. This will include depositing used needles, broken glass and any sharp materials in standard boxes with appropriate labels indicating its contents and warning against any mishandling. In addition disposable items of personal gear like gloves must also be properly discarded to avoid spread of infection.

Universal precautions sometimes also referred to as Standard precautions may vary in its form of implementation depending on the situations and as per the regulations in the region. Thus the precautions taken will be according to the seriousness of the infection and the equipment used by medical personnel will depend on whether they are working in an outdoor patient facility or in a surgery room.

For more information, please visit our universal precautions website.

For more information, please visit our universal precautions website http://www.universalprecautions.com

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Keywords: first aid ,Healthcare,medical,Universal Precautions