Infection Control and Bloodborne Pathogens

Blood Borne Pathogens (Infectious Diseases)

• Any bodily fluid may contain blood and is considered potentially infectious.
• Precautions must be taken to prevent contact with potentially infectious body fluids.
• If you come into contact with blood, use alcohol wipes to sterilize and call STAT-MD immediately.

Methods of Transmission

• Blood borne pathogen transmission can occur through:
• A prick from a needle used by an infected person.
• Human bites from an infected person.
• Exposure of broken skin to the body fluids of an infected person.
• Exposure of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth to the body fluids of an infected area.
• Airborne transmission can occur through respiratory droplets in the air.

Blood Borne Pathogens Prevention

• Immediately protect yourself by putting on gloves, found in the Biohazard Kit, EMK, First Aid Kit, or AED (Supplemental Pouch).
• Obtain the Body Fluid Cleanup Kit (Biohazard Kit).
• Put on protection equipment, including a face shield and a plastic apron.
• Dispose of items soaked with blood in the red trash bag found in the kit.
• Place the bag in an AFT lavatory trash bin and lock the lavatory to quarantine.

Sharps Shuttles

• A Sharps Shuttle is a portable medical waste disposal container used for disposing of contaminated needles.
• Two Sharps Shuttles are located in the Flight Attendant Supply Drawer.
• Sharps Shuttles are not a "No-Go" item.

Sharps Shuttles Procedure

• If a customer needs to dispose of a needle:
• Obtain the Sharps Shuttle from the FA Supply Drawer.
• Obtain a Body Fluid Cleanup Kit from the FA Supply Drawer.
• Don protective gloves.
• Provide the Sharps Shuttle to the customer and advise them to place the needle into the container with the needle facing the tip of the container.
• Take the container from the customer and lock the lid.
• Place the container into the biohazard containment bag along with the used protective gear.
• Seal the red biohazard bag.
• Place the red biohazard bag in a lavatory waste receptacle.
• Lock off the lavatory and notify the Captain that a biohazard bag has been used, where it is being stored, and that the inbound station needs to be notified during the in-range call for proper retrieval.

Glove Removal

• After handling a first aid emergency, it is important to remove gloves properly to prevent exposure from any bloodborne pathogens.

Emergency Medical Kit (EMK)

• The EMK is used for life-threatening emergencies in flight and is only for use by medical personnel.
• Flight Attendants may use specific items under the direction of STAT-MD or the Captain.
• The outer pocket of the EMK containing the stethoscope and blood pressure cuff can be accessed without STAT-MD or the Captain's permission.

Blood Borne Pathogens (Infectious Diseases)

• Any bodily fluid may contain blood and is considered potentially infectious.
• Precautions must be taken to prevent contact with potentially infectious body fluids.
• If you come into contact with blood, use alcohol wipes to sterilize and call STAT-MD immediately.

Methods of Transmission

• Blood borne pathogen transmission can occur through:
• A prick from a needle used by an infected person.
• Human bites from an infected person.
• Exposure of broken skin to the body fluids of an infected person.
• Exposure of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth to the body fluids of an infected area.
• Airborne transmission can occur through respiratory droplets in the air.

Blood Borne Pathogens Prevention

• Immediately protect yourself by putting on gloves, found in the Biohazard Kit, EMK, First Aid Kit, or AED (Supplemental Pouch).
• Obtain the Body Fluid Cleanup Kit (Biohazard Kit).
• Put on protection equipment, including a face shield and a plastic apron.
• Dispose of items soaked with blood in the red trash bag found in the kit.
• Place the bag in an AFT lavatory trash bin and lock the lavatory to quarantine.

Sharps Shuttles

• A Sharps Shuttle is a portable medical waste disposal container used for disposing of contaminated needles.
• Two Sharps Shuttles are located in the Flight Attendant Supply Drawer.
• Sharps Shuttles are not a "No-Go" item.

Sharps Shuttles Procedure

• If a customer needs to dispose of a needle:
• Obtain the Sharps Shuttle from the FA Supply Drawer.
• Obtain a Body Fluid Cleanup Kit from the FA Supply Drawer.
• Don protective gloves.
• Provide the Sharps Shuttle to the customer and advise them to place the needle into the container with the needle facing the tip of the container.
• Take the container from the customer and lock the lid.
• Place the container into the biohazard containment bag along with the used protective gear.
• Seal the red biohazard bag.
• Place the red biohazard bag in a lavatory waste receptacle.
• Lock off the lavatory and notify the Captain that a biohazard bag has been used, where it is being stored, and that the inbound station needs to be notified during the in-range call for proper retrieval.

Glove Removal

• After handling a first aid emergency, it is important to remove gloves properly to prevent exposure from any bloodborne pathogens.

Emergency Medical Kit (EMK)

• The EMK is used for life-threatening emergencies in flight and is only for use by medical personnel.
• Flight Attendants may use specific items under the direction of STAT-MD or the Captain.
• The outer pocket of the EMK containing the stethoscope and blood pressure cuff can be accessed without STAT-MD or the Captain's permission.

This quiz covers the importance of taking precautions when dealing with bodily fluids, and the proper procedures to follow in case of exposure to potentially infectious materials.