BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS INSERVICE
As sure as the sun comes up every day, children end up with scraped knees, cuts and bruises.
Students of all ages hurt themselves on the playground, in the classroom and on the playing field.
As a professional in our educational system you need to be aware of the potential danger of
bloodborne pathogens and to understand the dangers of infection and the safe procedures to
minimize risk.
Unfortunately, students are not immune to bloodborne disease.
There are many diseases carried by blood. The most common are the hepatitis B virus (HBV),
hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Hepatitis means “inflammation of the liver.” The hepatitis b virus poses a greater risk to you at
school than either hepatitis C or the HIV virus, since it is more easily transmitted. Fortunately, a
vaccine can prevent HBV infection.
HBV, HCV, and HIV and other pathogens may be present in blood and other materials,
such as:
Body fluids containing visible blood
Semen and vaginal secretions
Torn or loose skin.
Bloodborne pathogens can cause infection by entering your body in a variety of ways,
including:
Open cuts
Nicks
Skin abrasions
Dermatitis
Acne
The mucous membranes of your mouth, eyes or nose.
You can become infected by accidentally injuring yourself with a sharp object that is
contaminated. Sharp objects may be:
Broken glass
Sharp metal
Needles
Knives
Exposed ends of the orthodontic wires.
Bloodborne diseases can also be transmitted indirectly. This happens when you touch an
object or surface contaminated with blood or other infectious materials and transfer the
infection.
Contaminated surfaces are a major cause of the spread of hepatitis. HBV can survive on
environmental surfaces dried and at room temperatures for at least one week.
There are many people who carry infectious disease having no visible symptoms and no
knowledge of their condition. HIV, HCV and HBV can infect anyone.
THE KEYS TO PREVENTING INFECTION ARE:
Understanding the dangers you face.
Knowing how to protect yourself.
PROTECTING YOURSELF:
Handwashing is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself.
Handwashing keeps you from transferring contamination from your hands to other areas of your
body or other surfaces you may contact later.
Where handwashing facilities are not available, wash with an antiseptic hand cleanser or
antiseptic towelettes.
If skin or mucous membranes come in direct contact with blood, wash or flush the area with
water as soon as possible.
Gloves are the most widely used and basic form of personal protective equipment. You
must wear gloves when it is reasonably anticipated that you may have hand contact with:
Blood
Any potentially infectious materials
Mucous membranes or nonintact skin.
When using gloves, wash hands after removing them.
One of the best ways to protect yourself from hepatitis B infection is to have the
vaccination.
Protecting yourself from bloodborne diseases on the job requires knowing the facts and
taking sensible precautions.
Standard precautions require that you consider every person, all blood and most body
fluids to be potentially infectious. Potentially infectious waste to be disposed of by
custodial staff.
Courtesy of Coastal Training Technologies, Virginia Beach, VA
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRAINING
I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE ABOVE INFORMATION REGARDING
Bloodborne Pathogens.
______________________________ ___________________________ ____________
Print Name
Employee Signature
Date
Please print this page, sign, and submit to nurse’s office. Blood Borne Pathogens video to
view upon request see Mary Carr, RN