INFECTIOUS DISEASES

2 Infectious Diseases  Danger of further injury to: Ourselves The injured person Bystanders  The risk of contracting an infectious disease while doing first aid is slim  But not zero  Need to use Universal Precautions

3 Hepatitis  A and E are not generally fatal and resolve on their own without treatment  B, C, D are much more serious  These viruses are spread through direct contact between your bloodstream and the blood/body fluids of someone who is infected.  They can go away, can lead to death from cirrhosis and/or liver cancer, or become a chronic infection.

4 HIV / AIDS  Simple exposure of normal uninjured skin to infected blood or other fluids has not been shown to be a risk

5 Personal Concerns  What should you do if you suspect exposure to a transmissible infection?  How should you proceed?

6 High Risk Contact Procedures  Don't panic  Attend to the patient's priorities  Wash off the patient’s blood  Bleed out your wound for 5 minutes and disinfect it immediately  Remove yourself from the scene after further help arrives

7  Exchange pertinent contact information  Ask the patient discretely and privately whether he or she is known to have an infectious disease  Contact an emergency physician immediately to explain the situation

8 Universal Precautions  Routine use of barrier precautions, such as gloves and other practices to avoid contact with body fluids  Barriers are aimed at preventing contact between the blood and body fluids of an injured person and your bloodstream

9 Barrier Devices  Gloves  Mask  Glasses

10 Precautions  Wear disposable, single use gloves  Use a pocket mask wherever possible for AR  Keep sharp objects away from the scene  Dispose of bloody materials in sealed plastic bags  Clean up blood and body fluids spilled at the scene  Remove or cover bloody snow  Wear eye protection  Wear a mask that protects the nose and mouth

11 Gloves  Surgical gloves offer the most frequently used and all around best form of barrier protection.  When wearing gloves: Do not wear jewellery that might tear surgical gloves Examine the gloves frequently for tears

12 Removing Gloves  Grip the outside of the glove near the top and pull it off  Remove the second glove by sliding the bare hand into the glove and pushing down  Then grab the inside part of the glove and pull it off  Use biohazard bag