Re: 911:: Universal Precautions

[Guest guest]

> To: 911consoleegroups

> From: HUBBARDSANGEL@...

> Date: Sun, 6 Aug 2000 08:39:34 EDT

> Reply-to: 911consoleegroups

> Subject: Re: 911:: Universal Precautions

> Just a quick question. When you give a medical update to the med unit enroute

> to a patient we give a brief medical hx... hx of CHF hx cancer so on. How

> come we can't give hx of HIV? How come everything but HIV can been given?

--------<snip>------------

Because quite simply, its against the law. Doesn't matter how great

the logic of needing the info, its against the law, period.

On a related post, someone mentioned something to the tune of giving

instructions to the responding units, suggesting that we direct the

unit how to handle the call, don't go there! How they handle a call,

fire - police or EMS- , we don't want to get into a position of

telling the responders how to do a call, we don't know...we aren't

there and can't see all. Nor do we want the responsibility of

whatever happens...Just like someone else said, " we get blamed for

enough as it is..... "

Nick Wagner

Cortland Co. (NY) Sheriff's Dept

E9-1-1 Center/Sr. Supervisor

mailto:nwagner@...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 00-08-04 23:49:54 EDT, you write:

<<

I have to question this statement. It only takes a single drop of blood to

transmit a pathogen. What difference does it make if the blood comes from a

small cut or an amputated arm? Blood is blood, no matter where it comes from.

Universal Precautions SHOULD be taken on ALL calls. >>

Going back to this thread for a moment, I noticed most of the thread alked

about HIV/AIDS .... which yes, is blood borne, but nothing was said about

hepatitus C or TB. I asked an officer I know about this issue and just how

far he goes with precautions.....he gloves up and takes his changes withi the

airborne diseases like B and Hep C. THAT was/is a concern....So I agree

completedly, full CDC precautions for ALL calls....that way no one is

discriiminaed against -- everything is protected against....but just HOW does

a polie officer deal with the air borne?

[Guest guest]

I remember an ambulance company in Philadelphia getting sued - something about

their stretcher cleaning procedures left a lot to be desired and someone got

Hep-B off a stretcher. Can't remember the details. You make a good point,

. HIV dies rapidly, Hep-B sticks around, TB is the really scary one.

Michele Hriciso

Brevard County Sheriff's Office, FL

Homepage: www.thecluster.com

E-mail: E911Tigger@...

ICQ #28949458

AOL, MSN or Yahoo IM - E911Tigger

Re: 911:: Universal Precautions

With that said, Hepatitis IS, in my opinion, a greater worry than HIV.

HIV is rather hard to catch - the virus dies quickly outside the body. This is

not true of Hepatitis - it has been documented that the Hep. B virus may be

viable after several days in DRIED body fluids. Neither HIV nor Hepatitis are

airborne, however.

Good night to all....

-

[Guest guest]

Ok. But there is a vaccine for Hep. B. All of our firefighters are required

to get it. Since injured can come into the fire station, I, as the only

dispatcher was also requested to get the vaccine. It normally takes a series of

three shots, spread out over several months, but naturally mine didn't take

right away so I ended up taking 5 shots, but it is worth it in peace of mind

only.

Rich

1010 WC

" C. A. Voigt " wrote:

>

> Well, I, for one did mention hepatitis (both flavors) and other things

during this thread.... but I mainly want to make a correction very quickly,

before bad info gets multiplied: Hepatitis is body-fluid borne, BUT IS NOT

AIRBORNE IN ANY STRAIN.

>

> With that said, Hepatitis IS, in my opinion, a greater worry than HIV.

HIV is rather hard to catch - the virus dies quickly outside the body. This is

not true of Hepatitis - it has been documented that the Hep. B virus may be

viable after several days in DRIED body fluids. Neither HIV nor Hepatitis are

airborne, however.

>

> -

>

> C. A. Voigt

> pvoigt@...

> EMD / Telecommunicator

> BCSAR Comm Unit Leader

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for clarifying...... I was told somewhere along the way hepatitis C

could be airborne.

<< Hepatitis is body-fluid borne, BUT IS NOT AIRBORNE IN ANY STRAIN.>