Provided By: WebMD Needle stick injuries are a reality for people who regularly use needles, like nurses and lab workers. It also can happen if you handle trash, even if it’s not medical waste. According to the CDC, some 385,000 healthcare workers accidentally stick themselves with needles every year. Your chances of catching a disease from a single needle stick …
Safely Using Sharps at Home, at Work, and on Travel
Provided By: FDA Sharps is a medical term for devices with sharp points or edges that can puncture or cut skin. They may be used at home, at work, and while traveling to manage the medical conditions of people or their pets, including allergies, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, infertility, migraines, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, blood clotting disorders, and psoriasis. …
How To Safely Remove PPE
Provided By:The CDC There are a variety of ways to safely remove PPE without contaminating your clothing, skin, or mucous membranes with potentially infectious materials. Here is one example. Remove all PPE before exiting the patient room except a respirator, if worn. Remove the respirator after leaving the patient’s room and closing the door. Remove PPE in the following sequence: …
Keeping a Medical Office Clean
Provided By: Medical Bag First impressions say much to a prospective patient, and working in a clean environment is essential for medical staff. Clean waiting rooms, exam rooms, front desks, and bathrooms are important. Keeping germs at bay is prudent. How many patients complain that they don’t like going to the doctor (or hospitals) because they always get sick? In …
Best Way to Get Rid of Used Needles and Other Sharps
Provided By: The U.S. Food & Drug Administration The FDA recommends a two-step process for properly disposing of used needles and other sharps. Step 1: Place all needles and other sharps in a sharps disposal container immediately after they have been used. This will reduce the risk of needle sticks, cuts, and punctures from loose sharps. Sharps disposal containers should …
What is Considered Bio Waste?
Health-care activities protect and restore health and save lives. But what about the waste and by-products they generate? Of the total amount of waste generated by healthcare activities, about 85% is general, non-hazardous waste comparable to domestic waste. The remaining 15% is considered hazardous material that may be infectious, chemical, or radioactive. Types of waste Waste and by-products cover a …
How Masks Benefit You and Others During the COVID-19 Outbreak
For many individuals, wearing a mask during a workday or while running errands is a relatively new experience. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health experts have encouraged Americans to mask up while out and about, how do masks help exactly? How Does Coronavirus Travel? COVID-19 is a new respiratory virus that has not previously been seen …
How to Handle Norovirus
Have you ever experienced a stomach bug that made you sick every few minutes for seemingly hours on end? Have you ever felt nauseous because of a particularly potent strain of a bug that eventually left you dehydrated after you finished getting sick? Chances are the “bug” you experienced was no bug at all but was, in fact, the norovirus. …
Maintaining Good Hygiene in CPR Class
Good hygiene goes beyond hand washing and sanitizer, especially in medical training scenarios. It is key to mimic what is safe in the real world while refreshing important lifesaving knowledge. Following these simple steps can keep you safe during training and beyond. Universal Precautions The safest way to conduct any medical training is to use the industry standard of universal …
5 Ways to Avoid Catching a Virus by Touch
Some viruses, such as Covid-19, can be transmitted by touch, so when there’s an epidemic in your area, you need to handle shared items with care. If an infected person hands you something, for instance, you’ll need to avoid picking up any germs they’ve shed onto the item’s surface. If this can’t be avoided, you’ll need to clean your hands …