Use of Hospital Safety Equipment

Patients come to hospitals for treatment of an illness or injury so you don't want to make them sick by spreading infectious germs. Take your time when working with hospital safety equipment to perform all the necessary steps to protect yourself and your patient.

By practicing proper procedures with hospital safety equipment you'll be doing your part to control germs in a hospital environment.

Gloves

• Wear gloves if you're going to be exposed to blood, contaminated skin, mucus membranes or any other infectious materials.

  Disposable medical examination gloves should be worn if you're providing direct care to a patient.

  Remove your gloves after finishing patient care or after contacting medical equipment. If you're providing care to more than one patient, change gloves between patients. Gloves should not be washed for reuse, as that can spread infectious germs.

  If you're providing patient care and you'll be moving from a contaminated part of the body--such as the perineal area--to a clean area--such as the face--change gloves in between procedures.

Gowns

• Wear a gown during surgical procedures or when giving patient care whenever you come into contact with blood or body fluids or the patient's urine or bowel movements. A gown will protect your clothes and skin from becoming contaminated with germs.

  After finishing patient care, remove your gloves and wash your hands. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, proper hand hygiene involves washing your hands with soap under running water for at least 20 seconds. Dry your hands with a paper towel or use the air dryer. When you're finished, use a paper towel to turn the faucet off.

  If you don't have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based sanitizer. Apply the sanitizer to the palm of your hand and rub both hands together. Rub over the entire surface of both hands until they're dry.

  If you're performing more than one procedure on the same patient, change your gown between procedures.

Mouth, Nose and Eye Protection

• Wear a face mask, face shield or goggles to protect your eyes, nose and mouth when you're doing patient care that involves blood, body fluids or secretions, which can spray on your face.

Cleaning the Environment

• Each facility should have a policy in place that specifies when routine and targeted cleaning should take place.

  All employees responsible for cleaning environmental surfaces or safety equipment should wear either medical examination gloves or utility gloves.

  Use a microbiocidal disinfectant that has been registered with the Environmental Protection Agency to clean surfaces in the patient's room, such as door knobs, bed railing, bedside table and bathroom area.

  These disinfectants, used according to manufacturer's instructions, will kill germs that can contaminate the patient's room and surrounding area.

Safe Injections

• Sterile syringes to inject medications are designed to be used one time only, even if the tube and needle have been changed.

  Fluid infusion equipment, such as an intravenous bag, should be used by one patient and, after use, discarded immediately. Once you've used a syringe or needle to enter an intravenous bag the item becomes contaminated.