Raven EMS Education Program Manual
Sub-Section 5.75.325 - Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure and Needlesticks
Needlestick injuries are common in new healthcare students learning blood-taking and vascular access training with a reported 12% to 41% of students having a needlestick injury (Deisenhammer, Radon, Nowak, & Reichert, 2006). The risk of transmission of bloodborn illnesses following a needlestick is very low between 0% and 4% (Hernandez, et al., 1992; Hamid, Farooqui, Rizvi, Sultana, & Siddiqui, 2015; King & Strony, 2023). However, all efforts to prevent needlesticks should be taken and include (NIOSH, 2021):
- When possible, safety needles shall be used.
- When possible, manikins or skill trainers shall be used in lieu of live subjects or real tissue.
- Once used, sharp instruments shall immediately be made safe and/or disposed of properly. Do not recap needles or sharps.
In the event of a needle stick injury or body fluid exposure (Penalver, 2005; NIOSH, 2021; CDC, 2019; FTCC, 2023):
- Immediately wash the site with soap and water
- If the exposed skin is intact or the fluid or needle was not contaminated (i.e. training manikin), a true exposure has not occurred, but washing and reporting is still required.
- Report the incident to an instructor. The Lead Instructor, Program Director, and Deputy Director of EMS shall all be notified by the instructor. The Deputy Director of EMS shall notify Human Resources.
- If the incident occurred at a clinical site:
- Notify the preceptor and the department manager or supervisor, then notify your lead instructor afterwards.
- Follow the instructions of the department supervisor to complete the clinical sites documentation and reporting requirements.
- The department supervisor should contact the physician in charge of the source patient to receive orders for exposure labs and chart review.
- A recommendation to seek medical assessment and treatment by a physician shall be given to the injured person.
- Complete an incident report. OSHA 1904.8(a) requires “all work-related needlestick injuries and cuts from sharp objects that are contaminated with another person’s blood or potentially infectious material” to be reported on the OSHA 300 log (OSHA, 2001).
Change Log (5.75.325)
| Date | Author | Description of Change | Citations |
|---|
| 2024-08-15 | Becker, T.Theron Jack Becker | Created this section with needlestick prevention info from 5.75, needlestick response info from 5.75.250 and policy manual from FTCC. | (FTCC, 2023)FTCC. (2023, January). EMT policies and procedures manual. Fayetteville Technical Community College. |
| 2025-01-08 | Becker, T.Theron Jack Becker | Moved online from Adobe InDesign document. | |
