1. Protecting from Infections

2. NHS procedures are guidelines for correct and complete hand-washing

3. Latex gloves, disposable apron and alcohol hand sanitizer usage between service users or patients is normal day to day practice, which is written down on a policy and everyone is trained accordingly…

4. Blood borne viruses The main blood borne viruses are:- HIV
Hepatitis C virus
Hepatitis B virus

5. Vomit, urine and blood
Biological hazards can be bodily fluids and need a particular procedure to ensure they are cleared away safely….

6. Absorbing material is sprinkled over spilt blood, vomit or urine to turn the fluid solid so it can be swept up….
Disposal of the solid residue needs to be careful and then mopping the area thoroughly so there is no trace of the fluid left…. Then, report the incident!

7. Disposable protective clothing
PPE – Personal Protective Equipment are disposable gloves, aprons and face mask.
All incidents of chemical cleaning spillages need reporting to a supervisor and perhaps an analysis of what happen that lead to a spillage

8. Clinical Waste
Waste contaminated by blood, urine, saliva or other bodily fluids, which could be infectious.
Clinical waste advertisement;

9. Viruses passed through saliva http://www. dailymail. co
The main viruses caused by coughing, sneezing and touching where traces of saliva have been, even in the smallest of droplets:-
Colds
Flu or influenza
Measles
Chicken pox
Mumps
Rubella
Meningitis

10. Bacteria passed through sexual contact
Bacteria passed through skin contact and sometimes passed onto food ingested
Salmonella
MRSA
Clostridium difficile, also known as C. diff
Impetigo
Chlamydia
Syphilis
Gonorrhoea
Bacteria passed through sexual contact

11. Exposure to infections
Our own immune systems are fighting off invasions of bacteria, viruses and fungi, however, service users who are young, old, ill or stressed maybe more susceptible to them, as their immune systems is weaker Health, Social and Child care environments has lots of people together, in one place, increasing the chances of a spread between people. Poor care environments with poor ventilation, warmth and lack of running water allows pathogens that cause infections, to thrive

12. Disposal of sharps
Similar to other hospital or doctors waste, there is a policy and procedures for the safe disposal of needles or medicine vials (which are glass) Staff are trained and must strictly adhere to standards to avoid needle-stick injuries, which spread infection

13. Cleaning equipment
Cleaning equipment such as clothes, mops, as well as disposable aprons and gloves are often colour coded so there’s no accidental contamination from one area cleaned to another

14. Designated laundry room
Laundry is bagged according to type, so for example MRSA infected bedding is bagged in a red bag. Designated laundry areas where staff where gloves and aprons are necessary to ensure infected staff clothing or service user gowns and bedding is correctly laundered

15. Equipment and surfaces
Procedures and guidelines for cleaning equipment and surfaces are clear and care workers are trained about these. They are then protected themselves as well as protecting individual service users from cross-contamination from one patient to another, especially when they may already be vulnerable to becoming ill due to poor immune systems.