Guidance

Blood-borne viruses: managing potential risk in emergency workers

Information on preventing and controlling the exposure of emergency service personnel to common blood-borne viruses.

• From: Public Health England
• Published: 4 October 2019

Documents

Guidance on management of potential exposure to blood-borne viruses in emergency workers

Ref: PHE publications gateway number: GW-747

PDF, 1.69 MB, 34 pages

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Details

This document contains recommendations for frontline emergency service workers, on how to prevent and control exposure to common blood-borne viruses (BBVs) such as hepatitis C and HIV.

The document includes:

• recommended actions in the event of a potential exposure
• care pathways for specific groups of emergency service workers
• examples of how staff can be advised and supported
• information on myths and stigmas around BBVs

The advice applies specifically to staff who are working in the police, fire, ambulance, prison and immigration services.

It is intended for use by frontline service providers at the national, regional and local level, to ensure that their staff are effectively supported and educated on the risks of exposure to BBVs.

Published 4 October 2019