1. Safety and Healthcare Precautions
Kari Slade, BS Health Science, MA Public Health
Roosevelt High School Health Careers Program, Minnesota

2. Competency 2
2. Explain the current requirements of standard precautions and the procedures used at a variety of healthcare facilities to support those standards.

3. Standard Precautions
Standard precautions are designed for preventing the transmission of blood-borne diseases when first aid or health care is provided.
The Precautions include specific recommendations for use of gloves, gowns, masks, and protective eyewear when contact with blood or body secretions containing blood is anticipated.
The goal of these techniques is to prevent the spread of communicable diseases in healthcare facilities and microorganisms among patients, personnel and visitors.

4. These precautions are:
Hand decontamination
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Safe handling and disposal of sharps
Safe disposal of clinical waste
Safe handling of contaminated linen
Correct dealing with spillages of blood and body fluids

5. Transmission-based precautions
Transmission-based precautions are designed to supplement standard precautions in patients documented or suspected to be infected.
There are three types of transmission-based precautions:
Airborne: generated when talking, coughing or sneezing and during procedures involving the respiratory tract

6. Contact: requires direct or indirect contact
Droplets: requires close contact between the infected source and the recipient
 Contact: requires direct or indirect contact
(Skin infection)

7. OHSA Blood borne Pathogens Standards
Are a set of precautions designed to prevent transmission of HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and other blood borne pathogens when providing first aid or health care.
Under universal precautions, blood and certain body fluids of all patients are considered potentially infectious for HIV, HBV and other blood borne pathogens.

8. Precautions include:
blood
bodily fluids containing visible blood
semen
vaginal fluid
cerebrospinal
needles, scalpels and other sharp instruments

9. PPE: Personal Protective Equipment
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Is used by healthcare providers to protect themselves from injury or infection.
PPE is any type of face mask, glove, or clothing that acts as a barrier between infectious materials and the skin, mouth, nose, or eyes.
When used properly, personal protective equipment can help prevent the spread of infection from one person to another.

10. Exposure Control Plan
Employers are required to develop and make available an exposure control plan (ECP). The plan is in place to protect employees from health hazards associated with Bloodborne pathogens and provide appropriate treatment and counseling if an exposure incident occurs. Know where your exposure control plan is located and what it includes.
The exposure control plan includes detailed information about ways your employer provides a safe and healthful work environment, including:
Who is responsible for implementing the plan
Determination of employee exposure

11. Exposure Control Plan
Methods of exposure control such as Universal Precautions, engineering and work practice controls, personal protective equipment (PPE), and housekeeping
Hepatitis B vaccination
Post exposure evaluation and follow-up as well as the procedures for evaluating the circumstances surrounding an exposure incident
Communication of hazards to employees
Training and recordkeeping
Employers are required to implement a variety of preventive measures to reduce or eliminate the risk of exposure to blood borne pathogens, including Universal Precautions, work practice controls, PPE, engineering controls, and vaccination.

12. Chain of Infection Ways to break the chain: Hand washing Gloves Gown
Eye and face protection
Environmental controls
Change linens
Application of standard precautions
Aseptic practices
Disinfectants
Sterilization methods

13. Common Pathogens in healthcare facilities:
Hepatitis B and C
HIV
Tuberculosis
Flue
Pneumonia

14. RACE What is RACE? Remove patients Activate alarm/ alert all staff
Contain fire/ confine fire
Extinguish fire or evacuate area
RACE method is used for fire emergencies in a healthcare facility. RACE gives all the steps you need to put in action when a fire occurs in your workplace.

15. PASS Methods What is PASS? Pull the pin Aim the nozzle at base of fire
Squeeze the handle
Sweep back and forth along the base of fire
PASS gives you the exact steps to take when using a fire extinguisher. PASS is used after RACE.

16. Common safety precautions
Moving safely:
Moving unsafely easily gives mistakes a chance to happen. A first instinct during an emergency maybe to run or move fast MISTAKE!!! Running or moving fast may cause a fall or other injuries.
Dressing safely:
Dressing safely insures containment of viruses or diseases. Dressing safely also ensures the patient is going to get good care.

17. Common safety precautions
Protecting yourself and others:
Wearing gloves and practicing hand washing can protect you from various viruses or diseases. The way you can protect your patient is by following standard precautions.
Reporting for safety:
Being aware of your surroundings can help save someone's life. When you notice any unsafe conditions, you must report it.
Example: if you see a burnt out exit sign, report it. If there is an emergency and patients can’t see the sign, they may not know a way out.

18. Knowing your ABC’s
In case of an emergency, you must remember your ABC’s:
A—Airway: When most people suddenly become unconscious, their tongue will become extremely relaxed and settle back into their throat and block air flow to the lungs. Knowing how to simply reposition the victim’s head may correct this life threatening problem.

19. Knowing your ABC’s
B—Breathing: Falls, electrocution, near- drowning, and choking can cause a person to stop breathing. If not corrected immediately, the heart will also stop beating soon after breathing stops. Providing temporary rescue breathing can keep the blood oxygenated and the heart pumping.

20. Knowing your ABC’s
C—Circulation: Circulation is the flow of blood throughout the body. If the body’s cells do not receive adequate blood flow, the body will soon shut down. This can be the result of a heart attack, large amount of blood loss from an injury, or drug overdose. CPR can maintain blood circulation when the heart stops beating, until a defibrillator and advanced help arrives.
Remembering the ABC’s can help you be prepared for an unexpected emergency.

21. Questions?