Infection Prevention and Control for ESWs

How to Prevent the Spread of Infection to Others

  • Review the recommended immunizations and make sure you are up to date.

  • Clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) until you have access to a sink with soap and water:

    • Before and after using personal protective equipment (PPE).
    • After handling anything that is dirty or contaminated.
    • When exposed to blood or body fluids.
  • Make sure your ABHR has between 70-90% alcohol content and is not expired.
  • If you choose to wear PPE based on the situation, make sure to remove the PPE after the task.
    • If you are wearing a mask for source control, remove and replace it when it is wet.
    • PPE is single use only and is task specific.
    • Wearing gloves universally can be a way that germs can spread on surfaces or to other people. Remove gloves and throw them away either on the scene or in a garbage bag in your vehicle, then clean your hands.
  • Follow the label when using cleaning and disinfection wipes. The label will tell you:
    • How long it must stay wet on the surface to be effective.
    • What PPE to wear (if any).
  • Try to move from clean to dirty when using the wipes to minimize the risk of cross contamination.
  • Have a garbage bag or container available to throw out your used PPE.
  • When possible, designate someone to review supplies in each vehicle to make sure:
    • You have enough PPE (gloves, gown, mask, N95 respirator, eye protection).
    • Your cleaning and disinfection wipes are not expired or dried out.

Point of Care Risk Assessment for PPE

Assess the risk of each situation you encounter to determine what precautions you should take. Decide what PPE you will put on based on the answers to these questions:

  • What task am I going to perform?
  • What is the risk of exposure to:
    • Blood or body fluids (i.e. urine, feces, respiratory secretions, pus, open wounds?
    • Non-intact skin?
    • Mucous membranes?
    • Body tissues?
    • Contaminated equipment?
  • Will my skin or clothing be contaminated?
  • What resources are available to control the exposure?
  • How competent or experienced am I in performing this task?
  • Will the person be cooperative while I perform the task?

Wear the PPE for the situation based on your own point of care risk assessment.

  • Wear eye protection and a medical mask when you are within 2 metres of someone with respiratory symptoms. This will protect you from exposure to pathogens such as COVID-19 and Influenza.
  • Wear an N95 fit-tested mask when you are exposed to someone who is coughing, has a fever or a rash. This will protect you from exposure to very small particles of microorganisms that can be found in infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, measles, chickenpox and mpox.
  • Wear single-use medical gloves when your hands may be in contact with blood or body fluids. Leather gloves or hatch gloves are not a substitute.
    • Wash your hands when you remove your gloves.
  • Wear a gown if your clothing may become contaminated with blood or body fluids. This can happen if a client has nausea, vomiting or a wound that may be leaking/draining or non-intact skin.
    • If bunker gear is worn instead of a gown, it should be removed carefully and decontaminated (cleaned) and disinfected before next use as per the policies and procedures of the fire service.

Note: Make sure you are up to date with your N95 respirator fit testing. In general, you must be fit tested at least every two years to ensure your respirator fits you properly. If you require a new model, brand or size, your weight changes or there are facial/dental alterations, a fit test should be completed to make sure it remains effective.

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