This article will discuss the importance of proper sanitation in emergency medical services (EMS) according to Dr Michael Hilton. It will highlight how EMS professionals must ensure they comply with federal, state, and local laws regarding personal and occupational safety.
Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene can be mainly defined as the act or process of washing hands with soap and water, or drying them with a clean towel to remove dirt, food particles, and other contaminants that may be present on your skin.
Handwashing involves wetting your hands with warm running water (41C-46C), applying an adequate amount of liquid soap to cover all surfaces of your hands and fingers (including between fingers), rubbing all surfaces together for at least 20 seconds, rinsing hands thoroughly under running water, drying them using a paper towel or air dryer if available (not using any kind of towel).
Shelter-In-Place Challenges
Sheltering in place is a medical term used to describe an emergency response to an incident that requires people to remain indoors. This can be due to natural disasters or chemical releases, like those associated with terrorist attacks.
Sheltering-in-place poses challenges for EMS professionals because they must remain at their stations while they wait for further instructions from the scene commander. To prepare for sheltering in place, know your building’s layout and escape routes, and have supplies ready (food/water, first aid kit).
Patient Care Challenges
Dr Michael Hilton One step in mitigating the risks associated with patient care is to ensure that your team has a solid understanding of the challenges they may face and how best to mitigate them. For one, there are many types of hazardous material that EMS providers might encounter during their course of duty, including bloodborne pathogens like HIV and hepatitis B, radioactive substances, chemical contaminants such as pesticides and cleaning products, human remains or body fluids from deceased patients, drugs, or narcotics.
