Important Procedures during a Blood Clean up Process

Blood is likely to contain a host of bacteria, viruses and parasites that can be contagious and affect a person who comes in contact with it. There is a high risk of getting affected with blood borne pathogens when dealing with blood, of which the scenario occurs during a violent crime, suicide or accident. Hence, blood cleanup calls for professional intervention.

Nevertheless, the need to clean up a blood site requires immediate intervention until a professional arrives. In such a case, following are some necessary procedures to follow while cleaning blood. It is important to note that it is better to leave blood cleanup entirely to the professionals, if the extent of the blood site is large or a slight tampering can hamper forensic investigation.

• Don the appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) before handling blood cleanup. Some of the essential protective gear for blood cleanup include the following: Gloves: These are mandatory in order to protect your hand in coming in contact with blood. Use waterproof gloves made from rubber or latex and make sure that you use these once and only once. It is important to inspect the gloves to make sure there are no tears or punctures. If your hands have a gash or a recovering wound, make sure it is bandaged well and only then don the gloves.

Disposable Coveralls: They are body suits designed to protect the body from any fluids or chemicals. It is also designed to protect your clothing from blood as blood can quickly be absorbed in garments.

Mask with Goggles: This protects you from blood coming in contact with orifices above your chest level. It acts as a barrier between you and an accidental squirt of blood which is likely to occur during blood cleanup.

Boots: These are necessary at all times, especially if you have to navigate on a floor/ground surface which is covered or has been infected with blood. • If there are sharps involved in a blood cleanup process, make sure you do not touch them with bare hands. Use tongs or dust pans to collect the samples and put them in a protective container. Keep the container from reach and make sure it is properly transferred from one place to another without harming yourself/anyone.

• Place all disposable cleanup materials in a sealed garbage bag. • After one is done handling with blood/blood contaminated materials, it is equally essential to get rid of the PPE that has been used.

Remove the coveralls first, starting from the back. Peel the gown away from your body, turn it inside out, fold it and dispose it in the trash bag. Next remove the eyewear or any face shield and dispose them. Last but not the least; remove the gloves in an inside-out fashion. Make sure that your naked hands do not come in contact with the infected portion of the gloves. • It is important to wash your hand and make sure your Cleanup Kit/First Aid Kit is replenished without any paraphernalia being used again. Make sure that you engage a professional intervention, as it will help you eliminate the risk of any possible infection or left over contamination.

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