As-Salam-o-Alaikum Respected Readers,

Today we will share with you why it is important to avoid direct contact with blood.

There is a potential for transmission of infection, if direct contact with blood has occurred. Although rare, injuries from an infected patient’s blood can transmit more than 20 diseases, including Hepatitis B, C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Because of this transmission risk, a great care should be taken whenever you decide to administer first aid.

The main risk is exposure to infections, especially blood-borne viruses (BBV).

Transmission of infection depends on a number of factors, including the person’s natural immune system.  We know the number of injuries each year is high, and only a small number are known to have caused infections that become serious illnesses. The blood-borne viruses of most concern are:

• Hepatitis B;
• Hepatitis C; and
• HIV.

As we don’t know at time of administering first aid at emergency scene so avoiding direct contact with blood is the most important personal safety tip. In many of the real life scenarios, you may not carry first aid kit with you but you can improvise the items available with you or get them from your surroundings to maintain your safety as well. These incidents are avoidable, and reducing them is primarily dependent on high quality education & training. And our this post will help you to learn the basics of blood-borne viruses infections.

If you suffer an injury from a sharp object or have had direct contact with blood which may be contaminated:

• Encourage the wound to gently bleed, ideally holding it under running water;
• Wash the wound using running water and plenty of soap;
• Don’t scrub the wound whilst you are washing it;
• Don’t suck the wound;
• Dry the wound and cover it with a waterproof plaster or dressing;
• Seek urgent medical advice (for example from your Occupational Health Service), as effective prophylaxis  (medicines to help fight infection) are available; &
• Report the injury to your employer.

A significant proportion of blood-borne viruses infections occur when first aid providers fail to follow the standard personal protective procedures and dos and don’t told to them during their training sessions. These incidents are avoidable, and the above brief information can help you to take care of yourself from such worries.

Bloodborne Pathogens is an accredited training program which help students in managing disease exposure from materials that contain blood or other infectious body fluids. This course provides essential knowledge necessary to help reduce or eliminate the risk of bloodborne pathogens. This course is based on the latest guidelines released in October 2010.

To Your Safety & Success,

Faisal Javed Mir