Long-Term Care

Hazardous body fluids

LTC Nursing Assistant Trainer, March 17, 2004

Staff should be trained on how to protect themselves from hazards in work areas, what to do in case of an emergency, and what the correct techniques for safely handling hazardous agents are. You should regularly quiz staff on such situations and remind them the correct procedures to follow. As a refresher, tell CNAs which body fluids are hazardous. Here's a list of body fluids you should mention:

- Blood

- Vaginal secretions

- Semen

- Cerebrospinal fluid

- Serosanguinous fluid (from soiled dressings or wounds)

Also, remind staff that blood is the single most frequent source of HIV--that leads to AIDS--and Hepatitis B infection in the workplace.

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