Risk of infection
First aid personnel and workers may be at risk of exposure to infectious diseases or biological hazards if they receive:
- a skin penetrating injury such as a needle stick injury
- if blood or body substances come into contact with broken skin, open wounds, eyes or mouth
- contaminated first aid equipment or materials are used
Infectious diseases which may be transmitted by blood and some body substances include:
- hepatitis B
- hepatitis C
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS
All workplaces should undertake a review of their first aid practices to remove the risks of infection or exposure to biological hazards.
Standard precautions
Assume all blood body substances are infectious. Standard precautions include:
- good hygiene practices
- use of Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- correct handling and disposal of sharps and other infectious waste.
Hygiene
Hands should be washed using soap and water:
- before and after contact with an ill or injured person
- when there is contact with blood or body substances or contaminated items
- when protective gloves are removed
When soap and water is not available, use an alcoholic chlorhexidine hand wash or equivalent.
Waterproof dressings should be available to allow first aid personnel to cover injuries. This reduces the risk of an injured person's blood or body substance coming into contact with the broken skin of the first aid person.
More information on infection control is provided in section 2.4 of the First Aid Advisory Standard 2004 (now known as a Code of Practice).
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