Question

Explain the methods and techniques used to prevent needle stick, puncture, and laceration injuries

Answer 1

Methods and techniques to prevent NEEDLE STICK INJURIES:

1) Use safety syringes with a sharps injury protection (SIP) feature as recommended by WHO.
2) WHO recommends that health care workers and others who may be exposed to blood and blood products through their work should be vaccinated against hepatitis B.
3) Plan safe handling and disposal of needles before using them, e.g. make sure there is a safety box at arm’sreach when you give an injection.
4) If you have to transport the safety box to another room or to a disposal site, carry it carefully holding it at the top, above the level of the needles.
5) Never re-cap needles.
6) Place them uncapped into a sharp container immediately.
7) Never open a safety box.
8) Store in a safe and secure place
until it is ready for final disposal.
9) Never fill a safety box more
than three-quarters full.

We can protect others by:-

1) Ensure that all staff in your area are educated on the risks of needle-stick injuries and given appropriate training. This is especially important for housekeeping staff or sanitation workers who do not have
medical or nursing training.
2) Take time to explain risks, especially if you observe risky or dangerous procedures or behaviours among your colleagues.
3) Ensure waste is disposed of properly within the facility. It is your responsibility to ensure no infected waste reaches the community, where these items can be attractive to children to play with.

Methods and techniques used to prevent PUNCTURE INJURIES:-

A puncture wound, such as from stepping on a nail, doesn't usually cause much bleeding. But these wounds are often deep and can be dangerous because of the risk of infection.

To take care of a puncture wound:

1. Wash your hands. This helps prevent infection.
2. Stop the bleeding. Apply gentle pressure with a clean bandage or cloth.
3. Clean the wound. Rinse the wound with clear water for five to 10 minutes. If dirt or debris remains in the wound, use a washcloth to gently scrub it off. See a doctor if you can't remove all of the dirt or debris.

4. Apply an antibiotic. Apply a thin layer of an antibiotic cream or ointment (Neosporin, Polysporin). For the first two days, rewash the area and reapply the antibiotic when you change the dressing. Certain ingredients in some ointments can cause a mild rash in some people. If a rash appears, stop using the product and seek medical care.

5. Cover the wound. Bandages help keep the wound clean.
6. Change the dressing. Do this daily or whenever the bandage becomes wet or dirty.
7. Watch for signs of infection. See a doctor if the wound isn't healing or you notice any spreading redness, increasing pain, pus, swelling or fever.

Methods and techniques used to prevent LACERATION INJURIES:-

• Wear proper safety gear; eyewear, gloves, sleeves.
• Use the proper tool for the job.
• Inspect tools prior to use.
• Keep work area clear.
• Keep tool under control at all times.
• Keep the item you are cutting secured; don’t hold work in hand while cutting.
• Use a sharp blade; a dull blade requires greater force, increasing potential hazards.
• Replace blades when they become dull; use caution when disposing of used blades (e.g., use approved sharps container or wrap the cutting edge with heavy tape).
• Stand in a well-balanced position.
• Make sure the path of the cut is clear, and keep the non-cutting hand out of the path of the cut.
• When cutting thick material, use several passes of the blade and apply more downward pressure with each pass.
• Never use a cutting blade as a screwdriver, pry bar or chisel.
• Don’t leave exposed blades unattended; use self-retracting cutting blades.
• When appropriate, use rounded tip cutting blades rather than pointed tip blades.
• Maintain proper storage or use a separate drawer for sharp cutting tools.
• Keep cutting tools in a closed position or covered with a protective sheath.