Decon. Decon

R

RookieRescue1

Forum Probie
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Looking for a decontamination spray to use on my uniform in between calls. I just started working as an EMT a week ago and I really concerned about spreading contaminates especially when I'm visiting my mom, who has weak lungs or my girlfriend, whose nephew is 3 years old. Any suggestions?

Also a decontamination spray for the gurney would be nice, one that doesn't contain bleach.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Don't get dirty and wash you hands with soap.
 
If a spray existed for your uniform, it probably would also have some very toxic side effects.

After work, remove your dirty uniform, wash up and put on clean clothes before visiting family and friends. You should not be wearing your uniform, especially after a long shift of patient contact while off duty anyway.

If you must see a family member while on duty, make sure you have washed your hands well and don't hug them while wearing your uniform.

If your family wants to see you in uniform, put on a clean one or take a picture of yourself for them to look at.

To be dirty, the dirt or bacteria that you are carrying does not have to be visible. Some do believe their hands are not dirty unless they actually see something.
 
JakeEMTP said:
You should not be wearing your uniform, especially after a long shift of patient contact while off duty anyway
Click to expand...
but the ladies love me when I go to the bar after work, that EMT patch is like a total chic magnet!!!!

on a more serious note, change your uniform in between shifts. if they get dirty, change your uniform. always carry a spare uniform in your car. wash your hands and use the alcohol cleaner between patient contacts.
 
Those little cavi wipes (or whatever they are called. Red,purple,or green top) wipes seem to do the job amd they havent faded my crappy poly uniform. I guess if your that concerned lysol your self after every contact. I have had partners do that.
 
Joe said:
Those little cavi wipes (or whatever they are called. Red,purple,or green top) wipes seem to do the job amd they havent faded my crappy poly uniform. I guess if your that concerned lysol your self after every contact. I have had partners do that.
Click to expand...

There seems to be some lack of education when it comes to infection control.

Having any of that stuff on you close will not be good for someone coming into contact with you who has breathing problems or who is a small child.
If you read the instructions, these things are meant for hard surfaces for the product to make contact with totally. Neither are meant for cloth.
For some bacteria and viruses a bleach product is required. That also would not be good on a uniform.

The best thing you could do for your partners and their patients is to ask for more training on infection control and safe practices that will not be harmful to them or their patients.
 
JakeEMTP said:
There seems to be some lack of education when it comes to infection control.

The best thing you could do for your partners and their patients is to ask for more training on infection control and safe practices that will not be harmful to them or their patients.
Click to expand...

Exactly this.

Although I do subscribe to the idea of reasonable exposure to developing immune systems.

I also go with the theory that if I think I am an infection risk to hugging a family member then I am an infection risk to myself and it is time to change anyway.
 
I only use the cavi wipes to disinfect blood. Im not head to toe wiping myself down after every call.in a perfect world you should change your uniform after every contact.

About the smell. Do you wipe down the stretcher? Doesnt that smell still linger? So in theory i shouldnt be wiping down the gurney?
 
Joe said:
I only use the cavi wipes to disinfect blood.
Click to expand...

I like 3% h2o2.

Joe said:
in a perfect world you should change your uniform after every contact.
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree.

I can see dozens of patients in a shift. Including a multitude of septic ones. If somebody suggested changing scrubs between each of them even if the scrubs are not grossly contaminated I think they would be laughed at and may be informally run through the DSM requirements for OCD and paranoid delusions.

As something to remember, most tech level healthcare providers are given absolute rules and extreme positions to ensure safety with the understanding they were not given enough initial education to make reasonable decisions.

Overtime, experienced providers develop exceptional ability in "not getting dirty"

in bypass and valve repair/replacement surgery, it is considered "elegant" the peak of skill and efficency not to get even a drop of blood on anything except your gloves and wound margins. (which are properly cleaned prior to taking the patient to post op)

If there is an increased risk of infection in the back of an ambulance, than an increased level of BSI is in order. Including putting masks or other coverings on patients as well as providers.

Scrubbing yourself down afterword implies you already got something on you. (not to mention borders on psychotic)

Considering that most opportunistic infections are opportunistic from natural flora, what do you expect to catch?

Do you scrub yourself down everytime you handle money? Because that is some dirty stuff. It is usually off the charts for bacteria and fungi when tested.

Wash your hands and don't get stuff on you.
 
RookieRescue1 said:
Also a decontamination spray for the gurney would be nice, one that doesn't contain bleach.
Click to expand...

Why? We use bleach for a reason. Some things are only killed by bleach, or only killed in a reasonable amount of time by bleach.

Ever had norovirus? Trust me, once you have you will understand why we use bleach.
 
All good suggestions, thanks. Changing clothes and showering up is the best option, only thing is my station is ghetto and we don't have one. If they did, I'd just shower up there and put my uni in garbage bag. I guess I'll just have to bring extra clothes to change into after my shift and wash my hands really well.. lol
 
All good suggestions, thanks. Changing clothes and showering up is the best option, only thing is my station is ghetto and we don't have one. If they did, I'd just shower up there and put my uni in garbage bag. I guess I'll just have to bring extra clothes to change into after my shift and wash my hands really well.. lol

N I just whether a spray to cut down on waste. I hear there is one that you don't have to scrub to work.
 
Veneficus said:
I like 3% h2o2.



I
I can see dozens of patients in a shift. Including a multitude of septic ones. If somebody suggested changing scrubs between each of them even if the scrubs are not grossly contaminated I think they would be laughed at and may be informally run through the DSM requirements for OCD and paranoid delusions.
Click to expand...

In a hospital? CDC guidelines for MDRO patients suggest isolation and isolation covers to protect the scrubs. Isolation stethoscopes and separate equipment are used. It is not being paranoid but an awareness of how easily some bacteria are spread. If you ever get a chance to work in some specialty areas like transplant, CV Surg units, some ORs and neonatal units, they may ask you wear their scrubs. Many will have their own lounges and the employees do not leave the area.

Lab coats are not encouraged in the hospital and you will find doctors leaving the ties at home which once were a requirement for residents to wear at the bedside.

Hands are also scrubbed and it is not paranoid to wash your own body in a shower after work. Many hospitals provide that for their employees. It is just commonsense and there have been enough data from people and items being cultured.

While a young health 20 y/o EMT probably won't catch anything easily unless they do have a wound that is open, you must think of the patients. They are the ones who are at risk.

Letting your guard down and forgetting about basic protection leads to the consequences which can be a financial hit for the employer in a hefty fine and the loss of life as someone knew it if an infection is acquired through carelessness.

The ambulance is not an Operating room where you are doing open heart surgery where the air is filtered many times over and every piece of equipment is cleaned, all the staff are gowned, wearing hair bonnets and booties as well as the cutting instruments being sterilized. The surgical site with the surrounding skin is also cleaned. There is absolutely no way you can compare an OR and ambulance.
 
Anyone heard of odoban, Lysol Neutra Fabric Mist, or Febreze, antimicrobial? . All of them claim to kill 99% bacteria, a list of viruses, and it's safe to use on fabrics?
 
Veneficus said:
I like 3% h2o2.
Click to expand...
which would be great, except h2o2 is an extremely poor antiseptic; it doesn't kill anything. but it does bubble up and foam, and it's a great way to identify if something is contaminated with blood. applying h202 to blood results in the peroxide changing to water and releasing oxygen.

alcohol is much better at killing the germs and killing anything in blood.
 
DrParasite said:
which would be great, except h2o2 is an extremely poor antiseptic; it doesn't kill anything. but it does bubble up and foam, and it's a great way to identify if something is contaminated with blood. applying h202 to blood results in the peroxide changing to water and releasing oxygen.

alcohol is much better at killing the germs and killing anything in blood.
Click to expand...

It does however get the actual blood stain out if applied quickly. We use it to get the blood off of a player's jerseys during games. They wear the special high number "blood jersey" and one of us goes and sprays the soiled one down with h202, gets the blood out, and then uses alcohol to disinfect it before giving it back to the player. Alcohol in itself is a rather poor stain remover.
 
RookieRescue1 said:
Anyone heard of odoban, Lysol Neutra Fabric Mist, or Febreze, antimicrobial? . All of them claim to kill 99% bacteria, a list of viruses, and it's safe to use on fabrics?
Click to expand...

Yeh great idea (sarcasm) Start spraying yourself down and see how many allergic reactions or respiratory conditions you aggravate.

Seriously need to do some education and chill out.
 
This forum seems to have a serious and sudden case of the grumpies. Can we all take it down a notch please.
 
How do you get the smell out of the back of the rig after your friendly urban outdoors man decided to poop his pants before taking a nap in the sun? Im sorry but im going to lysol/febreeze the smell away. There is no amount of time with the doors open that will make that go away. And while im at it, i will febreeze my uniform on the back half of a 48 because i know my pts dont want to smell swamp a$... do you know how many people have had an allergic reaction/ respiratory distress caused by me smelling decent or my rig smelling nice? Id be more worried about the strong sani wipes before i worried about the vanilla sunshine medley that i spray in my rig.

Sorry bbg, didnt see your anti grumpy post before i hit submit. Ive said mybpeace now im out. Back to your regularly scheduled programming
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You spray vanilla sunshine medley in my rig and I will be the one killing you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top