Phlebotomy Essentials Chapter 3: Infection Control, Safety, First Aid, and Personal Wellness PDF

CHAPTER 3 Infection Control, Safety, First Aid, and Personal Wellness Copyright © 2024 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company. www.jblearning.com. Electrical Safety Electricity is a potential ignition source and cause of more that 25% of fires....

CHAPTER 3 Infection Control, Safety, First Aid, and Personal Wellness Copyright © 2024 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company. www.jblearning.com. Electrical Safety Electricity is a potential ignition source and cause of more that 25% of fires. Copyright © 2024 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company. www.jblearning.com Electricity can burn human tissue along the pathway of the current flow. Electricity can cause muscle contraction and ventricular fibrillation by way of electrical effects on the nervous system. Electricity can be fatal even at low voltage and low current. Electrical Safety cont. Some precautions to take for electrical safety: Copyright © 2024 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company. www.jblearning.com  Be familiar with the locations of circuit breakers and fuse boxes  Avoid the use of extension cords and multiple adapters  Only use outlets with a grounding connections and three-prong plug  Only use electrical equipment displaying CSA approved labels  If electrical equipment smokes or has a burning smell - cut the power supply immediately  Inspect electrical cords and equipment regularly  Avoid placing electrical cords across areas of pedestrian traffic  Use a class C fire extinguisher Electrical Safety  Electrical Safety Copyright © 2024 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company. www.jblearning.com  Actions to take if electrical shock occurs  Shut off source of electricity  Can’t shut it off? Use nonconducting item to remove electricity source from victim  Call for medical assistance  Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation if needed  Keep the victim warm Fire Safety  Fire Safety Copyright © 2024 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company. www.jblearning.com  All employees should know:  Procedures to follow in case of fire  Location of fire extinguishers and how to use them  Location of fire blankets or heavy towels and how to use them  Location of emergency exits and evacuation routes Fire Safety cont.  Fire safety (cont.) Copyright © 2024 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company. www.jblearning.com  Components needed for fire to occur  Fuel: combustible material  Heat: to temperature of material until ignition  Oxygen: to maintain combustion  Chemical reaction: produces fire  Keep components apart to prevent fire Fire Safety cont.  Fire safety (cont.) Copyright © 2024 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company. www.jblearning.com  Fire tetrahedron Figure 3-20 Fire tetrahedron. © Wolters Kluwer. Fire Safety cont. Some precautions to take for fire safety are: Copyright © 2024 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company. www.jblearning.com  Minimize the quantities of flammable liquids kept in the laboratory.  Use and store flammable liquids and gases only in well ventilated areas.  Conduct work involving the release of flammable vapours in a fume hood.  Keep containers closed.  Keep flammable liquids away from heat, sparks, open flames, electrical motors and direct sunlight.  Clean up spills of flammable liquids promptly to minimize the surface area if the spilled liquid - to avoid vapours reaching flammable limit. Fire Safety cont.  Fire Safety (cont.) Copyright © 2024 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company. www.jblearning.com  Classes of fire  Class A  Ordinary combustible materials (wood, paper)  Require water/water-based solutions to extinguish  Class B  Flammable liquids and vapors (paint, oil, grease, gasoline)  Require blocking oxygen or smothering to extinguish  Class C  Electrical equipment  Require nonconducting agents to extinguish Fire Safety  Fire Safety (cont.) Copyright © 2024 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company. www.jblearning.com  Classes of fire (cont.)  Class D  Combustible or reactive metals (sodium, potassium, magnesium, lithium)  Require dry powder agents or sand to extinguish  Class K  High-temperature cooking oils, grease, or fats  Require agents that prevent splashing and cool and smother fire Fire Safety cont. Most fire extinguishers operate according to the PASS Copyright © 2024 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company. www.jblearning.com technique Pull and turn the locking pin to break the seal Aim low (point the nozzle at the base of the flames) Squeeze the handle Sweep from side to side Radiation Safety  Radiation Safety Copyright © 2024 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company. www.jblearning.com  Principles of radiation exposure  Distance  Shielding  Time  Radiation present in:  Patients injected with radioactive dyes  Specimens from radiology or nuclear medicine Figure 3-22 The radiation hazard symbol.  Radioimmunoassay lab area © Wolters Kluwer. Radiation hazard symbol