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Protective Gear: Rescue Breathing Mask
Engineering Controls
Your employer has likely taken some steps to
modifying the workspace to prevent illnesses
from occuring. These are called
engineering
controls, and examples in an MAV operation
include hand sanitizer dispensers that might be
placed on the MAV unit. Some of the facilities
you transport patient to and from may also have
designated medical waste containers where
contaminated products may be disposed of.
Work Practices
As a responsible professional, there are steps
you should take to insure that you minimize the
chances of being infected with an illness. Steps
that you consciously take to minimize the
chances of being exposed to disease are called
work practices
. Examples of work practices
include frequent handwashing, using proper
containers, and avoiding ‘bad habits’ that
increase the chances of being exposed such as
driving with used gloves on.
Protective Equipment
Wherever contact with blood or bodily fluid
cannot be avoided with engineering controls or
work practices, an MAVO should use protective
equipment. For example, if an MAVO must
assist a patient who fell and cut his head, an
MAVO should don gloves before assisting the
patient. Other examples of protective
equipment include rescue breathing shields.
Body Substance Isolation
Since so many carriers of HIV or Hepatitis have
no symptoms and look very normal, it is
important for an MAVO to exercise caution
when dealing with patients. The expectation
from OSHA is that an MAVO use Body
Substance Isolation. This means that
regardless of the appearance of the patient, the
MAVO will use protective gear and good
decision making when possibly contacting the
patient’s blood or bodily fluid. Whether the
patient looks young or old, sick or healthy, rich
or poor, the MAVO will protect himself with a
piece of protective gear before possibly
Fluids Requiring Protection under BSI
The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard
requires that trainees learn a few fluids that
require protective gear:
-
Blood
-
Sexual secreation (semen & vaginal
secretions)
-
Cerebrospinal fluid
-
Synovial fluid
-
Pleural fluid
-
Saliva in a dental procedure
-
Any fluid with visible blood/OPIM or any
fluid which cannot be identified
While it is useful to know which type of fluids are
infectious, an MAVO should exercise caution and
protect himself from any fluids coming from a
patient.
Protective Gear: Rescue Breathing Mask
Hepatitis B Vaccination
Depending on the level of exposure at your
workplace, your employer may choose to offer
you vaccination against Hepatitis B. This
vaccination is created from a genetically
engineered yeast product, and is not derived from
real virus. The vaccination is given in three
doses over six months, and upon completion of
the vaccination series confers better than 90%
immunity to Hepatitis B. Your employer will
schedule you for Hepatitis B vaccination if he or
she offers it in your MAV company.