- Gloves protect you
whenever you touch blood; body fluids;
; or broken, burned, or scraped skin.
The use of gloves also decreases the risk of disease transmission if you are
pricked with a needle.
- Always wear gloves for handling items or
surfaces soiled with blood or body fluids.
- Wear gloves if you have
scraped, cut, or chapped skin on your hands.
- Change your gloves
after each use.
- immediately after
removing your gloves.
- Wash your hands and other skin surfaces
immediately after they come in contact with blood or body fluids.
- Masks and
protective eyewear, such as goggles or a face shield,
help protect your eyes, mouth, and nose from droplets of blood and other body
fluids. Always wear a mask and protective eyewear if you are doing a procedure
that may expose you to splashes or sprays of blood or body
fluids.
- Gowns or aprons protect you from splashes of blood or body fluids.
Always wear a gown or apron if you are doing a procedure that may expose you to
splashes or sprays of blood or body fluids.
How else can I reduce my risk?
The American Red Cross recommends that everyone use
while giving first
aid. You may wish to have gloves available in your home, office, or vehicle if
you think you may be required to help another person in an emergency.
Other precautions can help you minimize your risk of exposure to
contaminated blood and body fluids.
- If you give injections to a family member or
to yourself:
- Use puncture-resistant containers to
dispose of needles, scalpels, and other sharp instruments.
- Do not
recap needles.
- Do not bend or handle used needles or disposable
syringes.
- Have a disposable face shield or pocket mask
available if you think you might be required to perform mouth-to-mouth
resuscitation, which is part of
(cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
- Avoid touching objects that may be
contaminated.
What should I do if I am exposed?
- Wash
your hands immediately after any exposure to blood or body fluids, even if you
wear gloves.
- If you get splashed in the eyes, nose, or mouth, flush with water.
- If you are pricked by a needle (needlestick), contact
your doctor right away for further advice.
References
Other Works Consulted
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2003). Exposure to blood: What healthcare personnel need to know. Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/pdf/bbp/Exp_to_Blood.pdf.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2003).
Guidelines for environmental infection control in health-care facilities:
Recommendations of CDC and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory
Committee (HICPAC). MMWR, 52(RR-10): 1–48. Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5210a1.htm. [Errata in MMWR, 52(42): 1025–1026. Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5242a9.htm.]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2007). Guideline for isolation precautions: Preventing transmission of infectious agents in healthcare settings 2007. Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/pdf/guidelines/Isolation2007.pdf.