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<br /> <br />______________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />SUBJECT: EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN- BLOODBORNE <br />PATHOGENS <br />______________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br /> PURPOSE: <br /> <br />The purpose of this procedure is to provide information to all Full <br />employees on how to minimize the risk of exposure to infectious <br />microorganisms including, but not limited to HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis <br />C to which, during the course of performing their duties, employees may <br />be exposed. It is a further purpose of this procedure to provide the <br />employees information on what steps are to be taken if an employee <br />believes they have had a significant exposure to such pathogens. <br /> <br /> METHODS OF EXPOSURE OR CONTAMINATION: <br /> <br />Microorganisms (pathogens) identified in this procedure are typically <br />transmitted by contact with body fluids. Medical science, at this time, is <br />uncertain if other methods of transmission are possible, but this possibility <br />should not be ignored. Employees are urged to use caution when such <br />exposure is possible. <br /> <br />In addition to a possible risk of exposure while performing an Emergency <br />Medical Service (EMS) function, employees are urged to exercise caution <br />in all situations, which may provide an opportunity for body fluid contact <br />such as, arrest, i.e. hypodermic needle puncture, bites, etc. <br /> <br />Any cuts, open wounds, or sores that an employee has are potential sites <br />of infection and should be treated accordingly. <br /> <br />Typically, the spread of communicable disease requires: <br /> <br />A. A source of infection (microorganism); <br /> <br />B. A means of transmission; and <br /> <br />C. A susceptible host (reservoir). <br /> <br /> Employees are urged to use safe practices in cases of indirect contact as <br /> well (i.e. clothing items, potentially contaminated linens, potentially <br /> contaminated inanimate objects, droplet contact, and/or airborne contact). <br /> <br />