Initially, where possible, avoid contact
If exposed to body fluids it is important to get treatment as soon as possible
There is no vaccination available
All body fluids should be treated as contaminated with Hepatitis ‘B’
Cover all cuts and abrasions with sterile waterproof dressings
Wear disposable latex gloves when handling blood or bodily fluids
Wash contaminated skin immediately with soap and water or with decontaminant wipes
Wear stab proof gloves when dealing with sharps such as needles
All non sharp waste which is contaminated with blood or body fluids should be double bagged into yellow clinical waste bags, sealed and labelled. Except all DNA sticks, intoximeter mouth pieces used in custody areas which must be placed in the sharps bin.
Mobile breathalyser kit mouth pieces should be placed in the yellow clinical waste bags and returned to station for disposal. All sharps must be placed in the sharps box.
Contaminated clothing should be removed with disposable gloves. It should then be placed in a double-bagged yellow clinical waste bag and taken to a dry cleaners or given to the contract laundry service. This also applies to contaminated bedding, which should then be given to the contract laundry service.
Action in the event of sharps injury: If your skin has been pierced with a sharp object, which has possibly been contaminated with blood or body fluids, it should be washed with soap and water and encouraged to bleed by squeezing. The object should be collected and placed in an empty sharps box, as it may be required for testing. Try to establish when it was contaminated. Advice should then be sought from OHSD, local casualty or GP.
