When working in a healthcare facility you will be trained and told about various precautions and procedures to be followed while treating patients so as to ensure that you are protected against contracting diseases caused by coming in contact with fluids containing bloodborne pathogens.

In addition to the basic precautions you must also follow the following dos and don’ts to keep bloodborne pathogens at bay.

Do’s

1. Effective Housekeeping: An efficient housekeeping and cleaning staff is extremely important to a healthcare facility. Such workers must immediately clean up the blood or fluid that may have spilled and disinfect all the surfaces of contact. Furthermore all contaminated material must be handled carefully whether they go into the laundry or are disposed. Such staff must wear gloves and face masks while working.

2. Vaccination: Bloodborne pathogens may contain Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) which doesn’t have a cure as such. Thus healthcare facilities provide vaccinations to immunize all the personnel who come in contact with such patients or contaminated materials in course of their work. The staff must make sure they receive their shots as and when prescribed.

3. Protect Yourself: Besides wearing gear for general protection you must take additional care to properly cover up any skin that has a cut, wound or sores. The risk of getting an infection due to bloodborne pathogens increases greatly in case of contact with broken skin and thus extra caution must be exercised.

4. First Aid Kits: You must make sure that your first aid kit contains gloves and face masks to protect you from coming in contact with infected fluids when working away from your facility. Also keep a hand sanitizer in case water and soap is not available at the site.

5. Personal Hygiene: While washing hands is mentioned in almost all the precautions and procedures its importance cannot be stressed enough. This simple procedure is also one of the most effective to reduce chances of infection.

Don’ts

1. Food: Do not drink or eat your food near areas where contaminated material is being handled. Also remember never to store food in freezers, refrigerators or shelves where such blood or fluid specimens are being stored. If the samples do contain bloodborne pathogens then the chances of infection increases greatly.

2. Improper Handling: You must never handle broken glass with your hand because it may be infected. Also never try to bend, break or recap used needles as it might accidently pierce your skin. Instead always wear gloves and use brooms and tweezers or any other suitable device to handle such potentially contaminated instruments or materials.

3. Disposable Gear: Remember that personal gear like gloves and face masks are disposable and must be discarded safely after the first use. Never attempt to reuse such equipment and also stay away from using someone else’s gear as this can spread the infection that you are trying to protect yourself from.

These simple sets of do’s and don’ts will go a long way in ensuring your safety from contracting infections from bloodborne pathogens due to constant contact with patients or harmful materials.

For more information, please visit our bloodborne pathogens website.

For more information, please visit our bloodborne pathogens website http://www.bbpexams.com

Author Bio: For more information, please visit our bloodborne pathogens website.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: cleaning staff ,housekeeping,healthcare facility ,Bloodborne Pathogens