The Brant County Public Health Unit works to monitor and prevent infectious illnesses and outbreaks in the community. However, there are ‘routine practices’ that you can do on your own to protect yourself and prevent the spread of infectious diseases .

 

Some infections can be spread through contact with blood, body fluids, excretions and secretions. You cannot tell from looking at people if they have this kind of infection. Routine practices prevent contact with blood, body fluids, excretions and secretions of other people. These practices are the same in all settings for all people.

 

Routine practices are:

 

 

Wash Hands

Wash your hands before and after touching other people. Wash them after contact with blood, body fluids, excretions and secretions or any soiled articles. Wash them right after removing gloves. Click here for information on how to properly wash your hands .

 

 

Wear Gloves 

Wear gloves before giving first aid.  Wear them at other times when your hands are likely to come in contact with blood, body fluids, excretions and secretions, mucous membranes or broken skin. Wear gloves when handling soiled items or surfaces.

 

 

Use Protective Barriers

Use other protective barriers as necessary. For example, wear a gown or apron if your clothing is likely to be soiled with blood or body fluids, secretions or excretions. Remove your gown as soon as possible afterwards. Then wash your hands.

Protect yourself against sexually transmitted diseases. Use condoms and practice safer sex.

 

Cover all open or moist cuts or sores with a clean, dry bandage. Replace the bandage if it becomes wet or soiled.

 

Protect your eyes, nose and mouth from splashes of blood, body fluids, excretions and secretions. If a splash does happen, wash it away as quickly as possible. See a doctor right away.

Clean Properly

Be careful when you handle soiled materials and equipment so that you do not soil other things. In case of spills of blood or other body fluids, excretions and secretions, first wipe up the spill with paper towels. Then sanitize the area using a mixture of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. Allow the bleach mixture to be in contact with the surface for 10 minutes. Then wipe dry with a fresh paper towel.

 

Place soiled clothing and washables in a plastic bag. Seal the bag. Use a second plastic bag if it is likely to leak. Launder as soon as possible in the normal fashion. Wash your hands.

 

 

Handle Sharps Safely

Avoid sharing personal items such as razors and toothbrushes. Never share needles for injections. Place used 'sharps', such as needles used for injections, in a specially designed container. If you come across a used needle in a community setting, call the Health Unit to find out what to do. (If you must move it so that no one else will be injured, be very careful not to stick yourself.)

 

 

If you are exposed to someone else's blood, body fluids, e.g., through a needle stick injury, a splash or a human bite that breaks the skin, go immediately to the emergency department to have the injury assessed. Click on Applicant Report or on Physician Report for the forms required under the Mandatory Blood Testing Act. Click on Mandatory Blood Testing Act for more information on the act.

 

 

 

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Health Information Line at
Brant County Health Unit, 519-753-4937, extension 259
www.bchu.org  |  www.healthyschool.org   

 

 

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