If blood splashes in your eye, immediately irrigate your eye with clean water, saline, or sterile irrigant. Then, promptly report the exposure to your supervisor or the person in charge.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Immediate Actions
The first step is crucial in minimizing potential risks.
- Irrigate Immediately: Flush the affected eye thoroughly and immediately with copious amounts of clean water, saline, or a sterile eye irrigant. The goal is to remove the blood as quickly as possible.
- Continue Irrigation: Continue irrigating for at least 15-20 minutes. Don't stop prematurely.
- Remove Contact Lenses (If Applicable): If you wear contact lenses, remove them after you have begun irrigating your eye. Discard the lenses; do not re-use them.
Reporting the Incident
Reporting the exposure is vital for proper follow-up and potential medical intervention.
- Report Immediately: As per guidelines, report the incident to your supervisor or the person in charge without delay.
- Provide Details: When reporting, provide as much detail as possible, including:
- The source of the blood (if known).
- The circumstances of the splash.
- Any pre-existing conditions you may have.
Follow-Up Medical Care
After the initial response and reporting, further medical evaluation might be required.
- Seek Medical Attention: Follow your organization's protocol for exposure incidents. This often involves seeking medical attention from a qualified healthcare professional.
- Potential Testing: You may need to undergo blood tests to check for bloodborne pathogens, such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
- Prophylactic Treatment: In some cases, prophylactic treatment (preventative medication) may be recommended, depending on the source of the blood and your risk factors.
By taking these immediate and follow-up steps, you can minimize the risks associated with a blood splash exposure to the eye.
