Winston-Dillard School District 116

Code: EBBA-AR

First Aid - Infection Control

Oregon Department of Human Services, Health Services, information about the transmission of diseases including AIDS and HBV^[1] focuses on “body fluids” as a possible carrier of organisms that can infect others. The term includes drainage from cuts and scrapes, vomit, urine, feces, respiratory secretions (nasal discharge), saliva, semen, and blood. While any contact with the body fluids of another person represents a risk, the level of risk is very low. The risk is increased if the fluid comes in contact with a break in the skin of another individual. Generally, simple, consistent standards and procedures of cleanliness minimizes risk.

The following procedures are precautionary measures against the transmission of diseases. Prudent actions are to be employed by all members of the school staff but focus primarily on steps that employees can take to ensure their own well-being.

Those who administer first aid or provide physical care shall be specifically protected. The procedures, however, are a review for all staff and students of appropriate hygienic and sanitation procedures.

1. Standard precautions are to be followed at all times. Standard precautions require the assumption that staff and students approach infection control as if all direct contact with human blood and body fluids is known to be infectious for HIV, HBV, and/or other bloodborne pathogens.

2. Whenever possible, students should be directed to care for their own minor bleeding injury. This includes encouraging students to apply their own bandaids. If assistance is required, the caregiver should wear Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved examination gloves. Bandaids may be applied without gloves if caregiver will not come into contact with blood or wound drainage.

3. FDA-approved gloves are required for all tasks in which an individual may come into contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. Such tasks include cleaning body fluid spills, emptying trash cans, handling sharps or containers, handling contaminated broken glass, cleaning contaminated equipment, and handling contaminated laundry or clothing. This also includes assisting with any minor wound care, treating bloody noses, handling clothes soiled by incontinence, diaper changing, and cleaning up vomit.

4. Immediate, complete, and effective hand washing with soap and running water of at least 30 seconds duration should follow any first aid or health care given a student or contact with potentially infectious materials.

5. If exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials occurs through coughing, any first-aid procedure, or through an open sore or break in the skin, thorough washing, preferably with germicidal soap, is necessary.

6. In the event handwashing facilities are not readily available, thorough cleaning using an antiseptic cleanser and clean cloth or paper towels or antiseptic towelettes provided by the district as an alternative is necessary. In the event alternatives are used, hands must be washed with soap and running water as soon as feasible.

7. Contaminated work surfaces shall be decontaminated with an appropriate disinfectant after completion of procedures; immediately or as soon as feasible when surfaces are overtly contaminated or after any spill of blood or other potentially infectious materials; and at the end of the work shift if the surface may have become contaminated since the last cleaning. Clean surfaces with soap and water and then rinse with an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved disinfectant following labeling instructions for use, or a freshly made solution of one (1) part bleach to nine (9) parts water, and allow to air dry. These surfaces include equipment, counters, mats (including those used in physical education classes and athletic events), toys, or changing tables.

Disinfectants which can be used include Lysol, Purex, Clorox, Tough Act bathroom cleaner, Dow bathroom cleaner, Real Pine liquid cleaner, Pine Sol, Spic and Span, Tackle liquid, Comet, and other products with EPA numbers. Other disinfectants as recommended by the Center for Disease Control may be used.

8. An EPA approved disinfectant must be used when cleaning fluids such as blood or vomit from the floor or other such contaminated surfaces.

9. Contaminated laundry such as clothing and towels must be placed and transported in bags and containers in accordance with the district’s standard precautions. All such items must be laundered in hot or cold water and soap and placed in a dryer.

10. Needles, syringes, broken glassware, and other sharp objects found on district property must not be picked up by students at any time, nor by staff without appropriate puncture-proof gloves or mechanical device such as a broom, brush and dust pan. Any such items found must be disposed of in closable puncture resistant, leakproof containers that are appropriately labeled or color-coded.

11. All wastebaskets used to dispose of potentially infectious materials must be lined with a plastic bag liner that is changed daily.

12. Gloves and repellent gowns, aprons, or jackets are required for tasks in which exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials can be reasonably anticipated to contaminate street clothing. Type and characteristics of such protective clothing will depend on the task. Such tasks may include diapering or toileting with gross contamination, assisting with wound care, sorting or bagging contaminated laundry or clothing, and disposing of regulated waste with gross contamination.

^[1]AIDS - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; HBV - Hepatitis B Virus; HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus