Bloodborne Pathogens Precautions

Someone asked for this from the _Guide to Safe Scouting_ a little while
ago.

Protection Considerations for Bloodborne Pathogens

Many people are concerned about the rapid spread of HIV (the AIDS
virus) and try to avoid exposing themselves to this hazard. Health
professionals and amateur first-aiders like those of us in Scouting may
find ourselves faced with special concerns in this regard. Therefore,
we must know how to act and how to instruct the youth we lead.
All Scouters should do the following:

1. Try to maintain the BSA's tradition of rendering first aid to
those in need.
2. Recognize that often the victims we treat with first aid are
friends and family members whose health we are familiar with.
Therefore, in such cases, except when we know they have infectious
diseases, we should not hesitate to treat them.
3. Treat all blood as if it is contaminated with bloodborne viruses.
Try to stop bleeding or dress wounds after protecting ourselves by
wearing latex or vinyl gloves, or covering our hands with several
sterile dressings or a piece of plastic wrap. Unit first-aid kits
should, therefore, contain these items. First-aiders should always wash
their hands immediately after treating any kind of injury, especially
one involving blood or any other body fluid.
4. Render rescue breathing using a mouth-barrier device. This allows
the rescuer to breathe into the victim, but prevents the victim's breath
from passing through that same device. This device also keeps the
victim's saliva from entering the rescuer's system. First-aid equipment
suppliers and many pharmacies sell this equipment. One should be in
every unit first-aid kit.
5. Equip first-aiders with plastic goggles that will prevent a
victim's blood from getting into the rescuer's eyes in the case of
serious arterial bleeding.

Individuals who might have been exposed to another's blood and
body fluids (medicine, fire rescue, and law enforcement Explorer post
members; volunteer first-aiders at camporees, Scouting shows, and
similar events) should know the following:

1. The chartered organization and its leaders should always explain
and make clear the possible degree of exposure to blood or body fluids
as a result of Scouting activities.
2. As a precaution, adult volunteers or youth members should consider
a hepatitis-B vaccination. The cost of the shots will not be borne by
BSA nor is the chartered organization required to underwrite the cost.
3. The chartered organization may arrange to have shots given at a
reduced rate or free of charge.
4. If vaccination is recommended, any adult volunteers and youth
members who decline the shots either at full cost to them or at a
reduced rate, or free, should sign a refusal waiver that should be
retained by the council for five years.

-----------------------------------------------------BITNET: NBRINDLE@INDYCMS
Nathan C. Brindle, Administrative Specialist, Student Activities Office
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Staff Advisor, ALPHA PHI OMEGA, TAU OMICRON CHAPTER
List Administrator, STUACTS, APOSEC52, ACCESS-L, and BRTHPRNT@INDYCMS
Internet: NBRINDLE@INDYCMS.IUPUI.EDU
Disclaimer: My opinions are my own. Indiana University can speak for itself.
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