You Can Prevent Disease Transmission - Here's How

With today's technology and the Internet, information about any subject is often available at the click of a mouse. But many times, we encounter conflicting information from different resources, spurning misconceptions about a particular subject. One such subject is disease transmission.

What would you do if you had to care for a co-worker who was bleeding severely? You may not know this person's health history, so you must take action to protect yourself while you administer first aid. But wait, do you know how to protect yourself?

To alleviate concerns and confusion, the American Red Cross wants to help everyone understand how infections are spread, and most importantly what you can do to reduce the risk of infection.

Disease transmission occurs when pathogens such as bacteria or viruses from one person enter the body of another person. If a victim has an infectious disease and is bleeding severely, there is an easy path for infection to travel. If you make contact with the victim's blood or other bodily fluids and you have a cut, scrape or sore, a path exists for the infection to enter your body.

To reduce the risk of infection while you give care, do the following:

Avoid being splashed by blood.

Place a barrier between you and the victim's blood by wearing disposable gloves when covering the wound with a dressing.

Cover any cuts, scrapes or skin conditions you have before giving care.

Wash your hands immediately after providing care, even if you wore gloves. Use warm running water and soap at a utility or restroom sink. Do not use a sink in a food preparation area.

Avoid eating, drinking and touching your mouth, eyes or nose while providing care or before you wash your hands.

Avoid touching objects that may have been contaminated with blood.

Avoid handling any of your personal items, such as pens or combs, while providing care or before washing your hands.

These safety precautions can greatly reduce your risk of infection. Always give first aid in ways that protect both you and the victim from disease transmission.

There may be a time when someone will depend on you for first aid. Now that you know the facts, you won't have to hesitate to lend a hand.