Blood Borne Pathogens
Blood borne Pathogens
Guidelines for Healthcare Workers-Protecting Yourself with Standard Precautions
Protect Yourself from Blood borne Pathogens
As a healthcare worker, you may be exposed to germs that come from blood and other body fluids. Such germs, called blood borne pathogens, can make you very sick. By following your facility's guidelines and using standard precautions, you can protect yourself from blood borne pathogens. Read to learn more.
What Are Standard Precautions?
Standard precautions are guidelines developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These guidelines help prevent the spread of blood borne disease. Some blood borne pathogens cause severe illness, and even death. Use standard precautions at all times, with all patients. This helps protect you and your coworkers from becoming infected.
All healthcare workers who come in contact with blood and body fluids must protect themselves from blood borne pathogens.
Know How to Stay Safe
Using standard precautions and following your facility's guidelines will help keep you safe at work. This booklet will teach you:
• Which blood borne pathogens you should be most aware of. Knowing how to protect yourself from these germs can help keep you, and people around you, from becoming sick.
• When and how to wash your hands. Proper hand washing is one of the best ways to keep blood borne pathogens (and other germs) from spreading.
• How to safely handle used sharps (needles or other sharp objects). This will reduce your chances of being exposed to blood borne pathogens.
• How wearing gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) can protect you from blood borne pathogens.
• How to clean and dispose of contaminated items such as soiled laundry, used equipment, and anything else that touches a patient.
• What to do if you are exposed to blood or other body fluids. Also, know where to find your facility's exposure control plan (the guidelines you must follow if you
Guidelines for Healthcare Workers-Protecting Yourself with Standard Precautions
Protect Yourself from Blood borne Pathogens
As a healthcare worker, you may be exposed to germs that come from blood and other body fluids. Such germs, called blood borne pathogens, can make you very sick. By following your facility's guidelines and using standard precautions, you can protect yourself from blood borne pathogens. Read to learn more.
What Are Standard Precautions?
Standard precautions are guidelines developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These guidelines help prevent the spread of blood borne disease. Some blood borne pathogens cause severe illness, and even death. Use standard precautions at all times, with all patients. This helps protect you and your coworkers from becoming infected.
All healthcare workers who come in contact with blood and body fluids must protect themselves from blood borne pathogens.
Know How to Stay Safe
Using standard precautions and following your facility's guidelines will help keep you safe at work. This booklet will teach you:
• Which blood borne pathogens you should be most aware of. Knowing how to protect yourself from these germs can help keep you, and people around you, from becoming sick.
• When and how to wash your hands. Proper hand washing is one of the best ways to keep blood borne pathogens (and other germs) from spreading.
• How to safely handle used sharps (needles or other sharp objects). This will reduce your chances of being exposed to blood borne pathogens.
• How wearing gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) can protect you from blood borne pathogens.
• How to clean and dispose of contaminated items such as soiled laundry, used equipment, and anything else that touches a patient.
• What to do if you are exposed to blood or other body fluids. Also, know where to find your facility's exposure control plan (the guidelines you must follow if you