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The volunteers are required in General Orientation to sign a form that confirms this information has been reviewed, and the forms are kept in the individual volunteer's file in the Volunteer Services Office. Updates are included in issues of the volunteer newsletter which is published and sent to all volunteers on a quarterly basis.
10.1 Categories of Risk
All volunteer groups are categorized according to their level of risk:
- Category I: Tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids or tissue.
- Category II: Tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues, but may require performing unplanned Category I tasks.
- Category III: Tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues.
10.2 Guidelines to Prevent Spread of Infection
Volunteers in ALL CATEGORIES are instructed in the following:
- Do not enter patient rooms with an isolation sign, no visitor sign or where a treatment is being given unless authorized by the nursing staff.
- Wash hands frequently as good judgment dictates; always wash hands in the rest room, before meals and immediately if there has been direct contact with blood or body fluids.
- Be sure to cover wounds or scrapes with protective bandages before coming to volunteer.
- Do not come to volunteer if a cold, fever, rash or other infectious disease is present or even suspected.
- Volunteers who become ill while at the hospital should either go home or to Occupational Health Services and/or the Emergency Department depending on the severity of the symptoms.
- Practice good housekeeping by maintaining a clean, orderly work station. Assure that coffee/snack areas are kept tidy and that surface areas are clear at the end of the volunteer shift. Clean spills promptly.
- Eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics and handling contact lenses are prohibited in areas where there is potential for exposure to blood and/or body fluids.
- Food and drink are not to be stored in refrigerators, freezers, cabinets or shelves where blood or other potentially infectious materials are stored.
In addition to the above guidelines, volunteers in CATEGORY I and II groups are instructed in the following:
- Treat blood and all body fluids of all patients as infectious. Wear gloves as recommended for your position or have gloves handy in jacket pockets and/or on carts for use as necessary.
Always wash hands after removing gloves. Always wear gloves when handling equipment used in patient care and when handling used linen or patient specimens.
- All personal protective equipment should be removed after leaving a work area if contaminated and placed in an appropriately designated area or container.
Volunteers in CATEGORY I groups (Emergency and Pediatrics) are additionally instructed to follow the guidelines of their departments regarding the wearing of and access to protective gear.
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