Safe tips when caring for HIV & bull patients hello healthy

Although it is rare for you to get HIV infection from caring for a patient with the disease, it is not an exaggeration to pay attention to ways to avoid infection. To prevent even these rare events, you should follow a few safety tips when treating HIV patients.

How does a person get HIV?

HIV is human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome . To find out how HIV is transmitted, you have to understand the concept of what body fluids can transmit, and what body fluids cannot. Body fluids that can transmit HIV include blood, vaginal fluids, saliva (not proven), while other body fluids that cannot transmit HIV are tears, sweat, vomit, urine and feces. However, you still have to be careful with both types of fluids.

In addition, open sores or sores, mucous membranes (moist areas of the skin such as the mouth, vagina, and eyes), and even tiny cracks in the skin that you can't even see are also environments where the HIV virus can attack.

Tips for safely caring for HIV patients

Prevent infection

When you have to perform grooming tasks that come into contact with the blood or body fluids of an HIV patient, you must protect yourself by wearing vinyl or latex gloves and covering any cuts, scabs, or cuts on your exposed skin. Likewise, even if you can't catch it through bodily products, it is still important to wear rubber gloves when cleaning objects that have urine, feces, or vomit in them, to avoid infection with other germs. In particular, when you are cleaning a wound, take precautions and always wear gloves.

You also have to take care of your personal belongings. Do not share razors or other sharp objects with HIV patients because the blood on these items will transmit the HIV virus to you.

Use a plastic bag

As with wearing rubber gloves, you should use a plastic bag to collect anything that has blood, sperm, or vaginal fluids in it and also to keep other items from coming in contact with it. Make sure you close the bag carefully before placing it in the trash can. You must comply with regulations regarding the handling of HIV patient waste under the guidance of your doctor or local health department to protect everyone's safety.

Be careful with syringes

When a person with HIV injects drugs or has to test their own blood (for diabetes), the nurse should contact the syringe or lancet. In this case, handle the syringe or lancet with care to avoid stabbing yourself, and remember not to use your hands directly when putting the cap back on the syringe. Hold the syringe by the barrel and place it in the puncture-resistant container.

Cleanses body fluids

Of course, leaving blood stains on the surface of certain materials is also a contributing factor to HIV infection. Clean the surface as soon as it comes into contact with blood or body fluids such as sperm, vaginal fluids, etc. Always take safety precautions when cleaning. This way, you can kill any viruses on the surface and reduce your risk of getting an infection.

Caring for an HIV patient puts you at some risk. However, you can prevent these risks from occurring by understanding when you can get infected and how to get rid of the things that can get you infected, so that you can protect yourself well when treating HIV patients.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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