Universal Precautions

Purpose

Some children and adults may unknowingly be infected with Hepatitis B or HIV or other infectious agents. These agents may be present in blood or body fluids. Therefore, all blood and body fluids of children and staff will be treated as potentially infectious.

Policy

  1. Staff shall be educated regarding routine precautions to prevent transmission of blood-borne pathogens before beginning work in the facility and at least yearly.

  2. Staff will follow the universal/standard precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in handling any fluid that might contain blood or other body fluids.

  3. Universal/Standard Precautions require treating all blood and fluids that may contain blood or blood products as potentially infectious.

Procedures

1. Surfaces that may come in contact with potentially infectious body fluids must be either

disposable or material that can be sanitized (example: diapering pad).

2. Spills of body fluids, feces, nasal and eye discharges, saliva, urine and vomit should be

cleaned up immediately.

  1. Reduce contact with contaminated material by using gloves, hand brooms or other techniques to avoid touching the spill directly.

  2. Be careful not to splash contaminated material in to eyes, nose and/or mouth.

  3. Blood contaminated material shall be disposed of in a plastic bag with a secure tie.

  4. Clean any visible fluid from surface with soap and water and rinse.

  5. Wet (spray) entire surface with a bleach solution (¼ cup chlorine bleach to 2 ¼ cups of water, (1 to 9 solution) made fresh daily).

  6. Let stand for 2 minutes. You may let air dry or you may wipe dry after 2 minutes.

  7. Remove gloves carefully (Gloving Procedure*) and wash hands thoroughly

  1. Floors, rugs and carpeting that have been contaminated by body fluids shall be cleaned by blotting to remove the fluid as quickly as possible, then sanitize by spot cleaning with soap and/or disinfectant or steam cleaned/shampooing the surface.

  2. Mops or other equipment that is used to clean up spills should be cleaned with soap and water and rinsed with a disinfectant solution, wrung dry as possible and allowed to air dry completely.

When the policy applies:

  • To all staff and volunteers when blood or body fluids are present.

  • Staff and volunteers will receive a written copy of this policy in their orientation packets and attend a training before beginning work at the center and training yearly.