The following procedures or guidelines supplements or highlights those contained in the Exposure Control Plan. A. Members shall utilize protective disposable gloves and other infection control equipment when there is contact or potential contact with blood or other bodily fluids, regardless of whether the fluids are wet or dry. Direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids should be avoided whenever possible. Officers are required to carry issued protective disposable gloves while on their tours of duty. B. Members should wash their hands immediately and thoroughly with hot water and soap following contact with blood or other bodily fluids, or any other source of a possible infection.
Hand washing is recommended even if gloves are worn.
C. Members should make it a practice to bandage open wounds or cuts to avoid any direct contact with contaminated bodily fluids. Bandages should be sealed on four sides and should be changed if they become wet or soiled. D. Members should use extraordinary care when conducting searches of suspects, vehicles or premises. Hands should not be blindly placed where there may be sharp objects that could puncture the skin. To prevent needlestick injuries, attempts should not be made to recap or manipulate a needle or syringe by hand.