CHAPTER 2: WORKFORCE SAFETY AND WELLNESS

As an EMT, you will be called on to treat and transport patients with a variety of infectious or
communicable diseases.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE is a medical condition caused by the growth and spread of small, harmful organisms within
the body.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE is a disease that can be spread from one person or species to another.
***lmmunizations, protective techniques, and simple handwashing can dramatically minimize the health care
provider's risk of infection.
INFECTION is the abnormal invasion of a host or host tissues by organisms such as
bacteria, viruses, or parasites, with or without signs or symptoms of disease.
Immunizations, protective techniques, and simple hand washing can dramatically minimize
the health care provider's risk.
WORD OF WISDOM:
All bloodborne diseases are communicable ,disease, but not all communicable diseases are
bloodborne. For example, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is both communicable; chickenpox
is communicable but not bloodborne.

ROUTES OF TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION is the way an infectious disease is spread.
There are several ways infectious diseases can be transmitted, consisting of contact (direct or indirect), airborne,
foodborne, and vector-borne (transmitted through insects or parasitic worms).
Contact Transmission The movement of an organism from one person to another through physical touch.
There are two types:
Direct - Occurs when an organism is moved from one person to another through touching without any
intermediary. Examples can include, but not limited to, blood, or sexual transmission.
Indirect-Involves the spread of infection between the patient with an infection to another person through an
inanimate object. Examples can include, but not limited to, the ambulance stretcher (if uncleaned), or
needlesticks.
Bloodborne Pathogens - microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause
disease in humans.
Airborne Transmission- involves spreading an infectious agent through mechanism such as
droplets or dust.
Foodborne Transmission- involves the contamination of food or water with an organism that
can cause disease.
Vector-borne Transmission- involves the spread of infection by animals or insects that carry
an organism from one person or place to another.
RISK REDUCTION AND PREVENTION FOR INFECTIOUS AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
STANDARD PRECAUTIONS
Protective measures that have traditionally been developed by the CDC for use in dealing with objects,
blood, body fluids, or other potential exposure risks of communicable disease.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

develops and publishes guidelines concerning reducing risk in the workplace
guidelines require emergency care personnel to take precautions against disease transmitted by blood and other potentially
infectious substances or body fluids.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The CDC recommendation from 2007 is to assume that every person is potentially infected or can spread an
organism that could be transmitted in the health care setting, therefore you must apply infection control
procedures to reduce infection in patients and health care personnel.
You must also notify your designated officer if you are exposed.
The primary federal agency that conducts and supports public health activities in the US. The CDC is part of the
US Department of Health and Human Services.

Proper Handwashing
the simplest yet most effective way to control disease transmission. You should always wash your hands before
and after contact with a patient, even if you wear gloves.
If no running water is available, you may use waterless handwashing substitutes. If you use a waterless substitute
in the field, make sure you wash your hands using soap and water at the hospital.
STEPS IN HANDWASHING:

1. Apply soap to hands.

2. Rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds to work up a lather. Pay particular
attention to your fingernails.
3. Rinse your hands using warm water
4. Dry your hands with a paper towel, and use the paper towel to turn off the faucet.
Exposure a situation in which a person has had contact with blood, body fluids, tissues, or airborne particles in a
manner that suggests disease transmissions may occur. Gloves and eye protection are the minimum standard for all
patient care.

GLOVES

Gloves and eye protection are the minimum standard for all patient care if there is any possibility for exposure to blood or body
fluids. Both vinyl and latex gloves provide adequate protection.

Vinyl gloves may be best for routine procedures, and latex gloves may be best for invasive procedures.

Eye Protection/Face Shields -important in case blood splatters toward your eyes.
Standard Surgical Mask- if blood or body fluid spatter is a possibility. If you suspect that a patient has an airborne disease,
place one on the patient as well.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Protective equipment that OSHA requires to be made available to the EMT. In the
case of infection risk, PPE blocks entry of an organism into the body. Remember that latex or vinyl gloves are considered
medical waste and must be disposed of properly.

Standard Surgical Mask - If blood or body fluid spatter is a possibility. If you suspect that a patient has an airborne
disease, place one on the patient as well.

High-efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Respirator - Wear when patient is suspected to have tuberculosis.

Nonrebreathing Mask - If patient needs oxygen, use instead of a surgical mask on the patient and set the oxygen flow rate
at 10 to 15 L/min.

Immunity - the body's ability to protect itself from acquiring a disease.

Partial Immunity protects against new infections. But germs that remain in the body from the first illness may still be able
to cause the same disease again when the body is stressed or has some impairment in its immune system.
Hosts - the organism or individual that is attacked by the infecting agent.