CLINICAL LAB SCIENEC

128
ESSENTIALS OF CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
2. Spill kits may be designed for both biological and hazardous materials
cleanup, as well as for neutralizing toxic chemicals, and are to be provided
and used as required. Either type of kit is designed to absorb or contain biohazardous
materials for disposal.
3. Following the absorption process, disinfectants are to be used to thoroughly
clean the area of any residual material.
How to Assess a Potential Exposure
When confronted with a situation with a high potential for exposure to blood,
body fluids, or hazardous materials, or when such exposure has already occurred,
an individual should ask the following three questions:
1. Assess the situation; is it serious enough to determine that medical help is
needed? If the victim is bleeding profusely, or has any broken bones, there
is a potential for exposing the person providing aid to the victim. Serious
injury would necessitate calling 911. (Note that in some areas a 911 number
is not available, so you should post the proper number to call in the case of
an emergency in the work area. Many health care facilities will have already
done this as a function of the infection control personnel or in some cases, a
Safety Committee, and the numbers will often be posted conspicuously near
each work area, including maintenance and mechanical shops where traumatic
injuries may occur. All individuals should be familiar with the proper
procedure for reporting an emergency situation.) Primary treatment would
focus on keeping the victim comfortable and avoiding further injury by preventing
the victim from moving about, until emergency personnel arrive.
2. Can the situation be managed with simple first aid and removal of the
hazard without professional help? If the helper/rescuer has only come into
contact with a body fluid and has no breaks or cuts in the skin, washing of
the affected area(s) with soap and water is sufficient. In case of doubt, or if
questions arise, contact the infection control coordinator or seek medical
attention in the absence of the infection control officer . It is best to seek the
advice of a medical professional as early as possible following an actual
or a potential exposure to infectious body materials. A baseline set of
diagnostic tests and a review of the immunization records are always good
ideas. A delay in treatment is not advantageous to the exposed person, as
early treatment enables a better outcome if the person has been infected.
3. In case of doubt, should treatment be sought? It is better to err on the side
of caution. Making a proper assessment and, if necessary, instituting treatment
quickly, may prevent substantial harm. In the case of exposure to a
known substance, it is possible to ask for consultation with a professional
who may give valuable information regarding the possibility of the need
for further treatment. Even though the health care industry is chiefly concerned
with exposure to bloodborne and airborne pathogens, it is possible
that exposure may occur with materials that are chemical in nature and that
are equally as dangerous to the health of the worker as are disease-causing
organisms. Engineered and work practice controls (Figure 6-6) are essential
Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.