To reduce the risk of exposure to bodily fluids when providing CPR or first aid, it is important to follow these safety measures:
- Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as disposable gloves, masks, and eye protection to create barriers against blood and other body fluids.
- Use CPR breathing barriers like resuscitation masks or face shields when giving ventilations to avoid direct mouth-to-mouth contact.
- Cover any cuts, scrapes, or sores on your skin before wearing gloves.
- Avoid touching your face or mucous membranes while providing care.
- Dispose of contaminated gloves and materials in proper biohazard containers, and wash hands thoroughly after care, using soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer if handwashing is not available.
- Change gloves between different casualties and remove gloves without touching the contaminated outer surfaces.
- Use clean bandages and avoid splashes of body fluids. If exposed, wash immediately and seek medical advice.
- Practice good hygiene before and after providing care to minimize infection risk.
By adhering to these precautions, one can effectively minimize the risk of infection transmission while providing emergency care.
