It is very likely that all of us will, at some point, need to help someone in need of first aid treatment. It could happen at any time and anywhere – at work, during a family gathering, or while running errands. However, first aid providers sometimes forget to take their own safety into account. The threat of bloodborne pathogens is very real, and there are some simple steps that can be taken to prevent disease transmission.
What Are Bloodborne Pathogens?
A pathogen is any microorganism that causes disease. Bloodborne pathogens, therefore, are microorganisms that are found in human blood and other bodily fluids that can cause disease and infect other humans through direct contact. Some of them are viruses, and others are bacteria. Among the
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When a person has suffered an accident, blood and other fluids are almost guaranteed to be present. It becomes important for first aid providers to understand the risks and to take universal precautions. All bodily fluids should be treated as infectious. Assume nothing, and err on the side of caution.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
PPE can include a number of equipment and clothing items, and what is available may vary depending on accident location. However, they are all designed to protect an individual against pathogen exposure and should be warn for every first aid case, regardless of severity.
At bare minimum, PPE should include latex gloves and gowns. These serve to protect hands and skin from contact with bodily fluids, especially if the first aid provider has an open wound of his own. Additionally, eye protection and face shields will stop microorganisms from entering the body via the mucous membranes in the nose, mouth, and eyes. If CPR is needed, a pocket mask is a device used to prevent infection during mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
All PPE should be periodically checked for tears and holes, as this provides an opening for pathogens. If any damage is found, the item should be disposed and
Bloodborne Pathogens are pathogenic microorganisms that can eventually cause disease. They are found in human blood and other bodily fluids such as synovial fluid, semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid and any other fluid that mixes or has contact with blood. The bloodborne pathogens are pathogenic, which means they are disease causing, and they are also microorganisms, which means that they are very small so the human eye cannot see them.
The medical assisting extern needed to wash her hands before preparing the room for a patient to prevent cross contamination.
"Preventing Exposures to Bloodborne Pathogens among Paramedics." Workplace Solutions (2010): n. pag. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Web. 9 Feb. 2014.
There can never be enough emphasis on its teaching in school, communities, colleges, hospitals, clinics etc. There are a lot of journal articles, books and research material available to support this easy prevention technique. Rachel Barrett and Jacqueline Randle (2008) in their journal, Hand hygiene practices: nursing students perceptions, state that “Hands of healthcare workers and patients are therefore a primary cause for the transmission of infections by both endogenous and exogenous spread” (Para. 1). This is a relevant point which must be highlighted in every study material and teaching plans by the tutors in healthcare settings. Without proper hand hygiene it not possible to decrease the ill effects of infections spread through contact. The authors further discuss that other standard precautions should be kept in mind as those are important too. For example, while doing dressing change or assessing the pressure ulcer it is crucial to wear gloves as hand washing alone would not be enough to protect from contamination. However, the main point to remember is that gloves should not be used as a substitute for hand
Infectious diseases are the disorders caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasite who live both inside and outside our bodies and are normally helpful but can cause infectious diseases to the human (body) system under certain conditions. And for a disease to be infectious, there is what is called ‘’chain of infection’’ that takes place before. And this can be seen in the below diagram:
These germs, or organisms, are often living in or on our bodies. Most of the time they are harmless, and sometimes they are helpful.2 These organisms are often called microorganisms because they are so small they can only be seen through a microscope. There are millions of microorganisms living in your body that help with body functions. The problem is when a microorganism that can cause disease enters your body and starts to multiply. These unwanted microorganisms are called pathogens. Pathogens can be bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoans and insects or animals.3
Smallpox is a disease from the variola virus. Smallpox has caused an estimated number of 300 million deaths in the 1900s alone. Smallpox is said to have been around since the ancient Egyptian times. The disease was eradicated in the late 20th century and two samples are still kept, one in U.S.A and one in Russia. Smallpox creates bumps and blisters all over the body and has been one of the most fatal epidemics the world has seen.
Plague is a deadly infectious disease (ZOONOTIC DISEASE) caused by a gram negative bacterium Yersinia pestis. Plague is a disease that affects humans and other mammals. The bacteria are mainly found in rats and in the fleas that feed on them. Plague is transmitted to humans or other animals from rats and fleas bite that is carrying the plague bacterium, scratches from infected animals, inhalation of aerosols or consumption of food contaminated with the plague bacterium i.e. Yersinia pestis. In the past, plague destroyed entire civilization; no disease has impacted civilization as deeply as the plague did in Egypt, Europe, and Asia during Middle Ages. As many as 200 million people have died from this disease.
(2014) shed light on two key components for infection control, which includes protecting patients from acquiring infections and protecting health care workers from becoming infected (Curchoe et al., 2014). The techniques that are used to protect patients also provide protection for nurses and other health care workers alike. In order to prevent the spread of infections, it is important for health care workers to be meticulous and attentive when providing care to already vulnerable patients (Curchoe et al., 2014). If a health care worker is aware they may contaminate the surroundings of a patient, they must properly clean, disinfect, and sterilize any contaminated objects in order to reduce or eliminate microorganisms (Curchoe et al., 2014). It is also ideal to change gloves after contact with contaminated secretions and before leaving a patient’s room (Curchoe, 2014). Research suggests that due to standard precaution, gloves must be worn as a single-use item for each invasive procedure, contact with sterile sites, and non-intact skin or mucous membranes (Curchoe et al., 2014). Hence, it is critical that health care workers change gloves during any activity that has been assessed as carrying a risk of exposure to body substances, secretions, excretions, and blood (Curchoe et al.,
...s and hoses, control buttons, switches, hand pieces, and X-ray units (Collins). After every patient’s visit, the operatory is to be sterilized and disinfected. All areas that were that were not covered with a barrier, or if the barrier was compromised, must be wiped down with surface disinfectants similarly used in hospitals. OSHA requires disinfectants to be potent enough to fight against HIV and HBV infections (Collins). If there is any blood present on a surface, tuberculocidal type disinfectant should be utilized.
Avoiding infection or, at least, breaking the chain of transmission is vital in any setting, but more so in healthcare environments where infections and vulnerable hosts are moving under the same roof. What needs to be done, then?
Some people may not know exactly what First Aid is, or if they do they might not quite understand the full meaning of it. First Aid is the care that is given to an injured or sick person prior to treatment by medically trained personnel (Nordqvist, 2009). Believe it or not First Aid is dated back to the 11th century in Europe. The order of St. John was created in Europe with an aim of training people to be able to medically care for victims of battlefield injuries (Nordqvist, 2009). During the same period there were other knights that were trained as well to help with the battlefield injuries. In the 19th century, 1859, Henry Dunant, had trained and organized local village folks to administer first aid to battlefield victims in Italy (Nordqvist, 2009). However, in 1863, four nations had met in Geneva, Switzerland and formed the Red Cross (Nordqvist, 2009). There are three main goals that First Aid has, and they are: To preserve life, to prevent further harm, and promote recovery. Preserving life is the main aim of first aid, meaning to save lives of the first aider, the victim and any bystanders. To prevent further harm means to keep the patient stable and to be sure that the patient’s...
First aid has a wide variety to aid the victim’s needs. Even though there are a “variety of possible injuries, several principles of first aid apply in general to all emergencies.” (“First Aid”, pg. 1) The experts in the First Aid article mentions, “Avoiding panic or undue haste is important.” (“First Aid”, pg. 1) It is very important to keep calm in all situations so the mind is clear. Like said there is a wide variety but most common emergencies are “caused by accidents involving asphyxiation, cardiac arrest, severe bleeding, poisoning, burns, heatstroke and heat exhaustion, fainting and coma, sprains and fractures, and animal bite.” (“First Aid”, pg. 1) It is also important to know what not to do as it is to know what to do. (“First Aid”, pg. 1) First Aids main concern is keeping the victim alive until help arrives.
When most people hear “First Aid” they think of the little white box with the red logo on it containing Band-Aids, gauze, tape, bug bite sticks, and antibiotic cream. However Webster’s Dictionary defines first aid as “the emergency care or treatment given to an ill or injured person before regular medical aid can be obtained”. That being said “First Aid” is not to be confused with “First Responder” whom is a trained paramedic who is able to administer CPR, medication, perform intubation, IV fluids, and a multitude of other medical tasks that any bystander or even a CPR certified civilian is unable to perform.
First aid trained personnel and the first aid kit are the best tool to prevent further damage to the injured and make sure they are on the recovery path swiftly without any problems.