Ever forget to put on your gloves?

[Ridryder911]

All exposures should be reported. Sorry, but it appears a lot of you need some further education. Blood borne pathogens can enter the body through small cracks and cuts that you are not aware of. One should definitely not be paranoid but be aware and take the formal precautions and as well report in case there is an incidence later. If you did not report it, the consequences and costs will be upon you and not your employer.

R/r 911

 

[NomadicMedic]

To echo Rid, you should make sure to obtain and read a copy of your employer's BBP exposure plan. This is required by OSHA for any job where the employee may come in contact with potentially infectious material.

Not knowing ALL of your employer's mandated engineering and work practice controls, PPE requirements and reporting guidelines leave you open to assume some or all liability in the event of an exposure.

If your company doesn't have one, suggest that they prepare a document ASAP and distribute it to all staff.

 

[EMTelite]

I actually just did it the other day... I was off duty and I was at the movies with my girlfriend and some friends and I had an elderly fall victim I did my assessment and went to take a pulse and realized that I didnt have my gloves on but I went on with my procedures but afterwards I scrubbed the hell out of my hands with sani

 

[Seaglass]

Did the pt have any Blood Borne Illness's? Did you have any open cuts on your hand, or peeling or cracked skin where it happened? If you answered yes, you better fill out an incident report...

No to all of the above. I would've been more concerned if that were the case, or if the pt wasn't a frequent flier. I technically should've reported it anyways... but on the last call of a busy shift, when I'm not alert enough to notice my glove ripping, the chances of that happening were pretty slim.

We have mandatory bloodborne pathogens seminars every so often, as well as health screenings.

 

[CF919]

Never

Gloves go on as soon as we clear the call and go in route.

 

[JPINFV]

>.> <.<


So you're wearing gloves while inside the ambulance prior to even going on scene? I hope none of your patients are ever immunocompromised.

 

[amberdt03]

>.> <.<


So you're wearing gloves while inside the ambulance prior to even going on scene? I hope none of your patients are ever immunocompromised.

i know right.......used to have a partner that would wear gloves while driving after making patient contact.

 

[fiddlesticks]

i have never forgot to put gloves on but i have gone to itch my face or brush my hair out of my face with some pretty gross gloves on not thinking, thank god i caught my self at the last second yuck!

 

[Medic One]

I am 95% complient when it comes to putting gloves on but the worst thing of all to happen is........

Moving a pt from bed to the EMS cot on kneeling in urine....Even after a uniform change and bath in a bag/spit wash I still feel nasty....uhg I hate that!!!!

From now on I stay on the stretcher side and pull pt to me.

 

[exodus]

I am 95% complient when it comes to putting gloves on but the worst thing of all to happen is........

Moving a pt from bed to the EMS cot on kneeling in urine....Even after a uniform change and bath in a bag/spit wash I still feel nasty....uhg I hate that!!!!

From now on I stay on the stretcher side and pull pt to me.

If I ever have to get on the bed, I always feel the bed with my gloved hand first, then look on the glove for moisture :]

 

[CF919]

Let me clarify

Ok let me make myself clear the gloves go on while Enroute to the call. No thet are not driving gloves but when the door of the rig is opened everyone has BSI on. And in no means are the gloves worn while driving after patient contact has been maid....<_<

 

[Jon]

Ok let me make myself clear the gloves go on while Enroute to the call. No thet are not driving gloves but when the door of the rig is opened everyone has BSI on. And in no means are the gloves worn while driving after patient contact has been maid....<_<

Ok... We've discussed this attitude and why it's BAD earlier in the thread.... first of all... you are now thinking of gloves as "clean" when you need to always think of them as "dirty". That confusion could cause you to do something silly down the road.

 

[CF919]

I know what you are saying Jon.... But I have to disagree somewhat. I don't care who or what it is these days when that door opens on the rescue rig all my basic BSI equip. is in place. In my small town I see way to many people make patient contact and not were BSI equip. because they have known the person there whole life. Doesn't matter who what when were or why when you get out of the rig BSI is on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JPINFV]

I wonder how many people realize that standard precaution is not gloves on for all patients without thought.

 

[amberdt03]

Ok let me make myself clear the gloves go on while Enroute to the call. No thet are not driving gloves but when the door of the rig is opened everyone has BSI on. And in no means are the gloves worn while driving after patient contact has been maid....<_<

how often do you clean the inside of the door? what we are trying to tell you is that you don't know what is on the door. so when you open the door with a gloved hand, and then make patient contact you don't know what you could be exposing them to.

 

[CF919]

how often do you clean the inside of the door? What we are trying to tell you is that you don't know what is on the door. So when you open the door with a gloved hand, and then make patient contact you don't know what you could be exposing them to.

ok by my ways and habits i have never forgotten to put my gloves on!!! Another thing bsi is more for me for me not the patient. And decon is not just after a bloody run every patient that gets in that ambulance is justified a clean buss. My buss is clean..... And like i was saying bsi is for me and my partner more than the patient. I can go on for days!!!!!!!!!!!! Once you get in a habit of having gloves on when you get out of the buss you will never have to worry about starting a topic about this,

 

[amberdt03]

ok by my ways and habits i have never forgotten to put my gloves on!!! Another thing bsi is more for me for me not the patient. And decon is not just after a bloody run every patient that gets in that ambulance is justified a clean buss. My buss is clean..... And like i was saying bsi is for me and my partner more than the patient. I can go on for days!!!!!!!!!!!! Once you get in a habit of having gloves on when you get out of the buss you will never have to worry about starting a topic about this,

first of all, chill out dude. nobody is attacking you. second of all, i have never said that i don't wear gloves. the first thing i do before i make any physical contact with the patient is put gloves on.

let me ask you this, how many times do you write your report with your gloves on? by writing with your pen with your gloves on, and then making contact with your pen without gloves on will put you in contact with lord knows what.

 

[CF919]

Ok I give up..

ok well my ways of practicing BSI is not up to your standards its a now win situation. Yes i have written reports with my gloves on and yes that opens me up to many things. But I stand strong on the point i made of BSI is for me.

 

[medichopeful]

Another thing bsi is more for me for me not the patient.

Wrong. BSI is for both you AND the patient.

 

[CF919]

Wrong. BSI is for both you AND the patient.

Yes You are right But My first Priority is mine and my partners personal safety. if its not safe for use im sorry about your luck.. sorry thats the life of the EMT my job is to save you but if i cant do it safely i cant do it.. end of story