Act When you Come into Contact with Blood

Coming into contact with blood includes blood on your PPE and/or yourself. Even with following all the previous proactive measures to prevent exposure, you may experience times where your skin or other bodily surfaces do come into contact with them. This section will teach you how to respond to such an event.

IMMEDIATE ACTION IS ESSENTIAL FOR DIRECT EXPOSURE TO MUCOUS MEMBRANES

1. Take gloves off.
2. Wash hands and any exposed skin.
3. Rinse mucous membranes with copious amounts of water.
4. Report the Incident.
5. Follow through with employer protocols.

HOW DO YOU REMOVE GLOVES PROPERLY?

Removing gloves is not as simple as it sounds. Follow these steps to remove gloves without touching the dirty side to your skin.

1. Grip the outside of one glove near the wrist (Figure 5a).
2. Pull upward slightly until the glove comes off smoothly (inside out).
3. Cup the old glove in the hand with the remaining glove still on. Using your clean hand, slide your fingers beneath the surface of the glove near the wrist (Figure 5b).
4. Peel the glove towards your fingers, encasing the first glove in it (Figure 5c).
5. Dispose of the contaminated gloves properly, such as in a biohazard bag or in a plastic bag to
   seal the hazard until placement in an appropriate biohazard container.
6. Wash your hands.