What are blood and body fluid precautions?

Blood and body fluid precautions are used to prevent transmission of diseases transmitted in the blood (blood-borne pathogens), such as HIV or hepatitis. These precautions are used by health care workers and people who provide first aid when they may be in contact with blood or body fluids. Precautions may include protective barriers, such as gloves, gowns, masks, or eye protection.

These precautions also apply to other body fluids, including breast milk, semen, rectal and vaginal fluids, and fluid that surrounds a fetus or organs inside the body.

Why are these precautions important?

Though the skin acts as a barrier to give some protection from being exposed to substances that could be infectious, it is strongly recommended that health professionals use blood and body fluid precautions to give more protection when they provide health care. These precautions also help protect you from being exposed to a potential infection in a health care setting.

The American Red Cross recommends that everyone use blood and body fluid precautions when giving first aid.

Are blood and body fluid precautions always needed?

The best practice is to always use blood and body fluid precautions, even when you can't see any blood and there's no chance that blood is present.

How can you reduce your risk of exposure to blood and body fluids?

Blood and body fluid precautions involve the use of protective barriers such as gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection. These reduce the risk of exposing the skin or mucous membranes to fluids that could be infectious. Health care workers should always use protective barriers to protect themselves from exposure to another person's blood or body fluids.

If you give first aid, use blood and body fluid precautions. You may wish to have gloves available in your home, office, or vehicle if you think you may be required to help another person in an emergency.

Taking the following precautions can help you lower your risk of exposure to contaminated blood and body fluids.

• Use gloves to protect you whenever you touch blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, or broken, burned, or scraped skin. The use of gloves also decreases the risk of disease transmission if you are pricked with a needle.
  • Always wear gloves for handling items or surfaces soiled with blood or body fluids.
  • Wear gloves if you have scraped, cut, or chapped skin on your hands.
  • Change your gloves after each use.
  • Wash your hands immediately after removing your gloves.
  • Wash your hands and other skin surfaces immediately after they come in contact with blood or body fluids.
• Always wear a mask and protective eyewear if you are doing a procedure that may expose you to splashes or sprays of blood or body fluids. Masks and protective eyewear, such as goggles or a face shield, help protect your eyes, mouth, and nose from droplets of blood and other body fluids.
• Always wear a gown or apron if you are doing a procedure that may expose you to splashes or sprays of blood or body fluids. Gowns or aprons protect you from splashes of blood or body fluids.
• Take these precautions if you give injections to a family member or to yourself:
  • Use puncture-resistant containers to dispose of needles, scalpels, and other sharp instruments.
  • Do not recap needles.
  • Do not bend or handle used needles or disposable syringes.
• Avoid touching objects that may be contaminated with blood or body fluids.
• Learn first aid and CPR, so when you are faced with an emergency or injury, you will know what to do.

What should you do if you're exposed to blood or body fluids?

Take these steps if you have any exposure to blood and body fluids:

• Wash needle sticks and cuts with soap and water. You can let the wound bleed while washing it, but do not squeeze the area.
• Use water to flush splashed blood or body fluids from your nose, mouth, or skin.
• Wash your eyes. Use a steady stream of clean water, a saltwater solution, or a sterile eye wash.
• Don't wash the area with antiseptics or bleach.

Contact your doctor right away, especially if you are pricked by a needle (needlestick). In some cases, medicine may help to prevent infection. The sooner you start treatment, the more likely it is to work.