I. PURPOSE

Infectious diseases are a rapidly growing epidemic; however, prudent precautions can reduce the spread of such diseases. This directive has been developed so the department may manage those things that can be reasonably predicted will occur in the performance of our duties in order to protect departmental personnel and others from unnecessary exposure to infectious diseases.

II. POLICY

Police personnel and other public safety personnel routinely come into contact with members of the public. At some point, it is predictable that police officers will come into contact with people who are infected with contagious diseases such as the HIV/AIDS virus, hepatitis and other infectious diseases. Extreme caution shall be exercised by police personnel to avoid unprotected contact that may result in the transfer of infected viruses from the infected fluid to another person when dealing with blood or other bodily fluids, items stained with blood or other bodily fluids and persons of high risk groups through adherence to the procedures contained in this General Order and the department's Exposure Control Plan.

III. EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN

A. The department has developed an Exposure Control Plan which outlines procedures to be followed to minimize exposure to infectious diseases and which provides guidelines for proper action after an exposure incident.

B. The Exposure Control Plan is located in Section Five of the Bloodborne Pathogens manual. Every section or command of the department shall have a copy of the Bloodborne Pathogens manual available for employee reference and information.

C. All employees shall familiarize themselves with the Exposure Control Plan and conduct their business as provided for therein.

IV. UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS

Universal precautions will be observed by all members of the department in order to prevent contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. Universal precautions involves:

A. All blood or other potentially infectious material being considered infectious regardless of the perceived status of the source individual.

B. All blood or potentially infectious material being treated and handled as if it is infectious.

V. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO MINIMIZE EXPOSURE

Discretion should be used by members to limit exposure to infectious diseases. The following procedures or guidelines supplements or highlights those contained in the Exposure Control Plan.

A. Members shall utilize protective disposable gloves and other infection control equipment when there is contact or potential contact with blood or other bodily fluids, regardless of whether the fluids are wet or dry. Direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids should be avoided whenever possible. Officers are required to carry issued protective disposable gloves while on their tours of duty.

B. Members should wash their hands immediately and thoroughly with hot water and soap following contact with blood or other bodily fluids, or any other source of a possible infection. Hand washing is recommended even if gloves are worn.

C. Members should make it a practice to bandage open wounds or cuts to avoid any direct contact with contaminated bodily fluids. Bandages should be sealed on four sides and should be changed if they become wet or soiled.

D. Members should use extraordinary care when conducting searches of suspects, vehicles or premises. Hands should not be blindly placed where there may be sharp objects that could puncture the skin. To prevent needlestick injuries, attempts should not be made to recap or manipulate a needle or syringe by hand. Needles shall be stored in solid, puncture proof containers.

E. Members administering CPR are encouraged to use mouth-to-mask resuscitators. Direct contact mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is considered safe only as long as there is no contact with the victim's blood or other bodily fluids.

F. Members should exercise caution when investigating crime scenes involving subjects who exhibit high risk behaviors. Face masks should be utilized when collecting bodily fluid samples, especially blood, to avoid breathing dried particles which might be dislodged during the collection procedure.

G. Members shall not eat, drink or smoke at crime scenes where bodily fluids are present or other contagious factors exist.

H. Members should be aware that certain prescribed medications, such as steroids and asthma medications, suppress their immune systems and make them more susceptible to infectious diseases. Members should consult with their private physicians if they are taking prescription drugs.

I. Pregnant members should be advised to report to their physician any direct contacts with bodily fluids in the line of duty. Infectious viruses can cause severe problems in newborns.

J. Members can help minimize their chances of becoming infected with HIV/AIDS or other infectious diseases through careful observation and awareness of subjects dealt with, adequate sleep and nutrition and practicing good personal hygiene habits.

VI. INFECTION CONTROL PROCEDURES

A. Supplies

1. Commanding officers shall ensure that adequate supplies are available for infection control within their respective units. They will also initiate re-ordering procedures before supplies become depleted.

2. Commanding officers will be responsible for the inventory and dissemination of supplies for infection control.

3. Officers using supplies stored in police vehicles are responsible for replacing them. Protective disposable gloves, other first aid supplies and disinfecting materials will be made readily available at all times.

4. Officers shall have their issued CPR masks readily available for use in situations that involve the life-saving efforts of possible infected persons or where there is the presence of blood or bodily fluids.

B. Custody Procedures

1. Persons who exhibit high risk behaviors should be treated with caution. Where violence or an altercation is likely, protective disposable gloves should be worn. Extreme caution should be used during the search of suspected drug users or dealers to prevent accidental skin punctures by needles. Extreme caution must also be used when reaching into areas, such as under car seats, that are not visible.

2. After the completion of the task or search where protective disposable gloves or other supplies from the Infection Control Kit were utilized, they should be removed with caution. When removing protective disposable gloves, pull the gloves off inside out with one glove inside the other, and place them in a securely sealed plastic bag. The bag containing these items shall be transported to and placed within a designated "regulated waste receptacle."

3. Whenever it is necessary to transport a subject who has blood or bodily fluids present on his person or clothing, the supervisor shall be notified. Ambulances should be summoned when transport is necessary to a health care facility.

4. Subjects with blood or bodily fluid present on their persons should be transported separately from other subjects. Officers shall inform dispatch when a subject should be transported alone.

5. Officers have an obligation to inform other support personnel (firefighters, paramedics, etc.) whenever change or transfer of custody occurs and the subject has blood or bodily fluids present on his person.

6. Subjects taken into custody with blood or bodily fluids on their persons shall be taken directly and placed in the designated holding area for processing.

VII. PROCEDURES FOR EXPOSURE

Exposure to infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis B occurs when a person's blood or bodily fluids transfer to another person's bloodstream. That can occur through needle sticks, human bites or openings in the skin such as cuts which are exposed to blood or bodily fluids or splashes of blood or bodily fluids into the eyes, nose or mouth.

A. If a member sticks or cuts himself with a potentially infected sharp object, the affected area should be washed immediately with soap and hot water. Soap and hot water kills most disease viruses, including HIV, on contact. Medical attention should be then sought, if necessary.

B. Members who are bitten by any individual, whether or not the person is suspected of being infected with HIV or any other infectious disease, should:

l. Encourage the wound to bleed by applying pressure and "milking the wound."

2. Wash the area thoroughly with soap and hot water.

3. Seek medical attention at a nearby hospital.

C. A member who is spat upon while handling a person suspected of having HIV/AIDS or any other infectious disease should wash the area thoroughly with soap and hot water.

VIII. EXPOSURE REPORTING PROCEDURES

Members and supervisors shall follow the reporting procedures for infectious disease exposure as outlined in Section VI of the Exposure Control Plan.

IX. INFECTIOUS DISEASE TRAINING

The Training Section will be responsible for disseminating updated information and coordinating additional roll call and/or in-service training relating to HIV/AIDS or other infectious diseases.

VICTOR V. VIERRA
CHIEF OF POLICE

(New: 10-20-93)