HomeMy WebLinkAbout203.010f - Post Response
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
HEALTH AND SAFETY
203.010f POST RESPONSE
EFFECTIVE: AUGUST 2007
Current Revision Date: 5/16/19 Next Revision Date: 5/16/24
Author’s Name/Rank: Kevin Reynolds, Fire Captain Review Level: 1
Administrative Support:
Christina Johnson,
Senior Administrative Clerk
Section 203.010f
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PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to provide Fresno Fire Department (FFD or
Department) members with a defined procedure to handle bloodborne contamination
to equipment. The policy also helps define what constitutes a contamination and
how to handle the contamination.
APPLICATION
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OPERATIONAL POLICY
Upon return to quarters, contaminated equipment shall be removed
and replaced with clean equipment. Supplies of personal protective
equipment (PPE) on response vehicles shall be replenished.
Contaminated equipment shall be stored only in the
decontamination area. Cleaning and decontamination shall be
performed as soon as practical.
Disposable medical gloves shall be worn for all contact with
contaminated equipment or materials. Other PPE shall be used
depending on splash or spill potential.
Eating, drinking, smoking, handling contact lenses, or applying
cosmetics or lip balm is prohibited during cleaning or
decontamination procedures.
Disinfection shall be performed with a Department-approved
disinfectant/sanitizer or with 1:10 solution of bleach in water.
Section 203.010f
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All disinfectants shall be tuberculocidal; EPA approved and
registered.\
Any damaged equipment shall be cleaned and disinfected before
being sent out for repair.
The manufacturer's guidelines shall be used for the cleaning and
decontamination of all equipment.
Unless otherwise specified:
o Durable equipment (backboards, BP cuffs) shall be washed with
soapy water, rinsed with clean water, and disinfected with an
approved disinfectant/sanitizer or 1:10 bleach solution.
Equipment shall be allowed to air dry.
o Delicate equipment (radios, cardiac defibrillators, etc.) shall be
wiped clean of any debris using soapy water, wiped with clean
water, and then wiped with disinfectant/sanitizer or 1:10 bleach
solution. Equipment shall be allowed to air dry.
Work surfaces shall be decontaminated with an appropriate
disinfectant/sanitizer after completion of procedures, and after
spillage or contamination with blood or potentially infectious
materials. Seats on response vehicles contaminated with body
fluids from soiled PPE also shall be disinfected/sanitized upon
return to the station.
Porous areas of apparatus, such as seat belts, medical equipment
gearbags, seat covers and head rests, should be inspected and
cleaned as needed after a response where bloodborne pathogens
as well as other infectious disease organisms might have come in
contact with members unknowingly.
Porous medical equipment gearbags or other non-disposable, non-
porous delicate plastic items should be cleaned, disinfected and
sanitized utilizing the Department supplied sanitizing/disinfecting
sprays and liquids, and allowed to air dry in direct sunlight for a
brief period of time. This further allows micro-organisms to be
killed. However, do not place these items in direct sunlight for great
lengths of time as the material degrades with UV exposure.
Non-porous areas such as apparatus floors, doors, handles,
switches, radio headsets, and portable equipment might also have
unknowingly come into contact with unknown organisms.
Section 203.010f
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Therefore, diligent inspection and cleaning after each response is
necessary to prevent further contamination.
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
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PROCESS
ITEM
BIO-
HAZARD
WASTE?
EXAMPLE/COMMENTS
Paper products No Paper towels, band aids, cotton balls,
etc. No risk to members handling them.
Disposable gowns,
gloves, masks, etc. No Place in regular trash, unless items are
wet and saturated with blood.
Dressings and bandages No
Unless items are saturated with blood or
will drip bloody fluid when compressed,
they may be placed in regular trash
Disposable items with
heavy residual blood on
surfaces or
compartments
Yes Bag valve masks, 02 tubing, etc.
INFORMATION
Disposable items contaminated during patient care are not normally bio-hazard
waste. Based on the above-mentiones table, the Department does not generate bio-
hazard waste products, which require special disposal. In the event bio-hazard
waste is generated, it should be placed in a red bio-hazard bag and disposed of at
the nearest medical facility. A disposal form is not required.
DEFINITIONS
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CROSS-REFERENCES
Standard Operating Procedures Manual
Section 203.010, Infection Control
Section 203.010a, Health Maintenance
Section 203.010f
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Section 203.010b, Infection Control Training
Section 203.010c, Personal Protective Equipment
Section 203.010d, Scene Operations
Section 203.010g, Post-Exposure Protocols
Section 203.010h, Station Environment
Section 203.010i, Compliance and Quality Monitoring/Program
Evaluation