Cranbrook Fire & Emergency ServicesOperational Guidelines
POST EXPOSURE TO BODY FLUIDS/COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
OG# 2.1.5 / Date of Last Revision: July 15, 2013

Purpose: To ensure post incident follow-up care and support is provided for members exposed to body fluids or communicable disease.

Scope: All Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services personnel.

Policy: When personnel are exposed to body fluids or communicable disease a clearly defined process will be in place to ensure proper treatment, testing and documentation take place after the incident.

Procedure: Measures will be taken to reduce the risk of exposure. Body substance isolation, universal precautions and good hand washing techniques are to be a part of departmental routine practice.

Provide first aid after exposure by:

  • Washing area with soap and water.
  • If splash is in the eyes, washout the area well with water (10 min) being cautious to not contaminate the unaffected eye.

Notify the on duty Officer.

Access the Post Exposure package (kept on each engine and at the dispatch workstation) and report to the Emergency Department for follow up treatment.

Present the Physician with the letter contained in the package and the BC forms “Management of Percutaneous or Permucosal Exposure to Blood and Body Fluid/Laboratory Requisition” and “Management of Percutaneous or Permucosal Exposure to Blood and Body Fluid Letter for follow-Up Physician”.

Efforts should be made by the on duty Officer to interview the source. A consent form and checklist are part of the post exposure package to aid in this process. Note: the source may choose not to cooperate and they do have the right to refuse.

If source does refuse, Bill 39 can be put into effect (attached).

If the source refuses consent an application can be made through the court utilizing Bill 39, Emergency Intervention Disclosure Act. This process takes time and is not helpful in reaching decisions which require timely treatment to be effective.

Follow up with a family Physician is the responsibility of the member affected.

These types of injuries can be stressful to the member affected. If critical incident counseling is required for the member contact WCB at 1-800-663-4261.

POST EXPOSURE TO BODY FLUIDS/COMMUNICABLE DISEASEcontinued…

These types of injuries can be stressful for family members of those affected, if needed contact the Employee Assistance Program at 1-800-668-2055.

Complete the Work Safe BC formsas outlined in the CF&ES Occupational Health & Safety program.

Enter into FDM as an exposure and injury.

Reference:

WorkSafe BC

BC Ministry of Health Services form “Management of Percutaneous or Permucosal Exposure to Blood and Body Fluid/Laboratory Requisition”, HLTH 2340 2004/08/20

BC Ministry of Health Services form “Management of Percutaneous or Permucosal Exposure to Blood and Body Fluid Letter for follow-Up Physician”, HLTH 2339 Rev.2005/04/12

Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services letter “Firefighter/First Responder Infectious Disease Exposure”, 2007/07/03

Cranbrook Fire & Emergency Services information pamphlet “ Blood borne Pathogen Exposure InformationalHandout”, 2007/07/25

WCB Publication – “Blood Borne Pathogens”

BCAS Policy – “Blood and Airborne Pathogens”

BILL 39 — 2012 EMERGENCY INTERVENTION DISCLOSURE ACT, retrieved on July 16, 2012 from

Also OG:

Employee Immunization2.1.3

Critical incident Stress 2.1.2

Dealing with Blood, Body Fluids and airborne Contaminants 2.1.4

/ This OG replaces: Split into OG #1.01.18 and
1.01.19
Implementation Date: July 25, 2007

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