BLOOD BORNE VIRUSES

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BLOOD BORNE VIRUSES
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What well cover today

• What is a Blood Borne Virus (BBV)
• How you may be exposed to BBVs
• What you can do to protect yourself
• What to do if you are potentially exposed

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What is a Blood Borne Virus?

• A BBV is a virus that some people carry in their
  blood
• The virus may cause severe disease in some people
  and
• few or no symptoms in others

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BBVs

• Other body fluids can carry BBVs urine,
  faeces, sputum,
• and vomit but unless they are contaminated with
  blood this
• is a very low risk
• The BBVs that you may have heard of are
  Hepatitis and
• HIV

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How you may be exposed to BBVs

• Having another persons blood or bodily fluids go
  into
• open wounds, scratches, grazes
• your eyes, mouth or nose
• your skin via a needle or sharp instrument
• or through sexual contact

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How to Protect Yourself

• Always use the gloves and protective clothing
  provided
• Always check your skin especially your hands for
  cuts or
• breaks in the skin
• Cover all cuts and
• grazes with a water
• proof dressing

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What's the risk?

• No Risk-Low Risk
• Blood or bodily fluid onto skin with no cuts or
  grazes
• Low Risk
• A dried up old needle going into your skin or
• A blood splash into eyes, nose or mouth from
  person not likely to be a blood borne virus
  carrier
• High Risk
• Blood or bodily fluids from a someone with a high
  risk /known to have blood borne virus goes into
  your skin through puncture wound, break in the
  skin or into your eyes, nose or mouth

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What to do if you may have been exposed to BBV

• Puncture Wounds and Cuts
• Allow wound to bleed and squeeze gently
• Do not suck the wound
• Do not cover wound with any dressing
• Wash area with soap and warm water or rinse with
  lots of
• clean water
• Get medical advice from AE as soon as possible

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What to do if you may have been exposed to BBV

• Skin, Mouth Eye Contamination

• Rinse your eyes/mouth with lots of water
• Wash your skin with soap and warm water
• Get medical advice from Accident Emergency

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What to do if you may have been exposed to BBV

• Make sure the incident is reported to your line
  manager, safety rep and Occupational Health
• Attend AE and follow any medical advice given
• There is confidential support for you if you need
  it by contacting the Employee Assistance
  Programme on
• 0800 174319

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Remember

• The risk of contracting a blood borne virus is
  very low however, there is still a risk so
  procedures should be followed and personal
  protective equipment should be used to make sure
  that the risks to you are reduced further
• Your line manager can contact BUPA Occupational
  Health Helpline on 0845 602 0239 if further
  advice is required
• For more information visit
• Occupational Health and Wellbeing on Connect