I know this may be a dumb questions but I need some answers//advice, whatever. I've been in EMS for about 3 years. I even worked 911 as a basic for a while until EMS was given to the FD. I'm now in Paramedic school and they've been doing a really good job at freaking us out over what we get exposed to and how much of a risk we are at with catching something we can't wash off. I even had someone telling me the other day his old partner got HepC from not washing his hands after a simple call. It's to the point a lot of us are constantly washing and sanitizing and freaking out. Then we go on clinicals and the medics don't seem near as worried as we are. And when i say scared I mean tie our boots and have to wash our hands, won't use a blanket that's been at the station with out washing it first, scared to touch our clothes excessively ... You catch my drift. What's the deal with this?? Should we be this scared of what we see?
Cooties! EMS exposure risks??
- Thread starter ENW512
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This stuff is basic and should have been covered in your EMT class. If not it will be in your medic books.
Standard precautions of hand washing, disinfection of equipment and the ambulance covers most everything.
Know when you need to use your ppe.
Your company should have an infection control binder or policy's and procedures book with what is expects of you.
Standard precautions of hand washing, disinfection of equipment and the ambulance covers most everything.
Know when you need to use your ppe.
Your company should have an infection control binder or policy's and procedures book with what is expects of you.
Yes. Thank you. I know this stuff is covered early on. I'm not asking for the text book answer. I'm asking for answers based on experience. Believe it or not a lot of people wonder this stuff but are too afraid to ask or say anything because we get answers like yours. Yes the PPE basics were covered. I know how to wear gloves and safety glasses etc, that's not what has the people I know, including myself, worried. It's the drop of blood on our shoes that we didn't see. Or touching the ambulance floor or shelving...etc. Things like that aren't really talked about. No offense but your answer is a perfect example why young medics and EMTs don't like asking questions or advice. It wasn't helpful and made me look and feel dumb. I don't know one person in any part of the medical industry that's never been worried even a little of contracting something in a weird way just because the book says to don appropriate PPE.
Ewok Jerky
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So they scare you about disease transmission but don't educate you on it? Hep C is a bloodborne pathogen, and as such is not spread through casual contact and "not washing hands" (unless your un-gloved hands are covered in blood and you rub them all over your open wounds).
Seriously, they are called Standard Precautions for a reason. Wear gloves, mask when appropriate, goggles too. Wash the gurney and equipment after each call.
I wash my hands frequently but not for ME, I am more worried about transmitting something to my next patient who might be immuno-compromised. Your not going to catch anything from your shoelaces. If the call is particularly sceevy I might change my uniform back at the station, or throw it right in the wash when I get home. Now, blankets in the station is a whole nother thing
Seriously, they are called Standard Precautions for a reason. Wear gloves, mask when appropriate, goggles too. Wash the gurney and equipment after each call.
I wash my hands frequently but not for ME, I am more worried about transmitting something to my next patient who might be immuno-compromised. Your not going to catch anything from your shoelaces. If the call is particularly sceevy I might change my uniform back at the station, or throw it right in the wash when I get home. Now, blankets in the station is a whole nother thing
We do get educated yes but there's always that extra little bit they through in that freaks people out like yes HepC is bloodborne but can live in dried blood for up to 14 days. -- you see what I mean? I know how things are transmitted but it's the 'what's left over from your call' that's got us kinda leery.
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Scare tactics for compliance. Use appropriate PPE for the patient involved and wash you're hands. If you see dried blood somewhere don't lick it, just clean it up. You'll be fine.
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I apologize if my post came off in a negative way. It was not intended.
This study can give you some reference to how long some diseases can live outside of the body.
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2334-6-130.pdf
When I mentioned the infection control policy /book I did so because most all I have seen cover most of what you are asking.
What ppe is required, the mode of transmission, vulnerable populations, how long it lives outside the body, what is require to clean it, etc.
Ewok Jerky
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I see what you are saying, but you really have to have some situation awareness about this kind of stuff. After all you are responsible for cleaning the back of the bus and need to know when a full decon vs standard wipe down is necessary. Again, if a call is particularly "fluidy" then sure, spray your boots down and change your shirt or whatever. And if you see dried blood, clean it up.
Brandon O
Puzzled by facies
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Germs aren't real!
Adam Bartley
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I remember this scare tactic....My first year in the field I got a toenail scratch from a guy who was HepC positive....OMG! I was a wreck..scrubbed my arm in Cavacide, lol....Turns out the scratch didnt break the skin, and unless the guy has blood on his toenail, and cut me (not just a superficial scratch).....I have been tested and retested (I donate a lot of blood and platelets)....still clean lol. Its good to be respectful (maybe a bit scared too), but as stated, education is key... know the risks, how its transmitted.....and USE PPE! Goggles, gloves, faceshield if needed, USE THEM. And protect yourself as if every patient has an infectious disease.
Sounds a little excessive but it's for good reason. You don't want to get complacent and get stuck by a needle or get blood in your eyes, etc. even if you do get stuck they say the risk of transmission is still low but believe me it's not something you ever want to go through.
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We put patients in the ambulance all the time with zero PPE, and ambulances are not as rule particularly clean (nor is the ER). Yet somehow people are not contracting infectious diseases left and right from their ride to the hospital...
Ewok Jerky
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Also, my first day in PA school learning physical exam I put on gloves and I was told unless I have a suspicion of infection I don't need gloves for every pt. But I also have a sink in every room of the building. Point is, @Tigger is right. Be safe but don't make yourself crazy.