Intro and Sharps Flashcards
sharps
needles, blades (e.g. scalpels) and other medical instruments that are necesary for carrying out healthcare work and could cause injury by cutting or pricking the skin
sharps related to dentistry
Needles Scalers Burs Probes Excavators K files Etc
Don’t wipe scalers with gauze
who is responsible for sharps disposal
the operator
Can delegate the task but not the responsibility
sharps regulations require employers/contractors in healthcare (4)
Effective arrangements in place for the safe use and disposal of medical sharps:
Avoid unnecessary use
Safer sharps where reasonably practicable
- safety plus syringe system
Information and training to workers
Investigate and take action in response to sharps injuries
5 features of sharps containers
available in different lid colours to indicate different streams
- use the right one
The temporary closure mechanism should be closed when the container the container is not in use
The lid should be firmly closed in place
Do not fill above the line – the container should be closed once the line is reached
All details should be completed when the container is assembled and prior to disposal (open and closure)
sharp with medicine bin colour
blue lids
sharps with no medicine left bin colour
orange lids
importance of medical history and sharps injurt
Patients can withhold MHx
- Cannot make some available
- right to decline and withhold
Have a look but treat all the same and use procedure
- Cannot tell from appearance if high risk patient
ARC Acronym
A are you injured
R remove your gloves
C check area carefully
what should you do if you think you could have sustained a sharps injury
STOP what your doing
Take off your gloves
Get Supervising Clinician immediately, explain situation
Investigate “injury” site, confirm NO injury has occurred before commencing with treatment
- Squeeze site
Dispose of used sharp and start again with new sharp
- Even if there is NO injury DO NOT use the same sharp
Filling out a DATIX form will take longer than stopping to investigate
risk assessment following sharps injury
should not be carried out by student
All information contained within the risk assessment is STRICTLY confidential
- Intrusive Qs
Information from the risk assessment MUST NOT be written in the patients casenotes
The risk assessment MUST BE DESTROYED after occupational health have been called
Students MUST NOT have blood samples taken within the dental school
- Pt in dental hospital/hospital
- Student in occupational health
high risk answers yes to
any question from 4-10 is yes in occupational health risk assessment
datix if student injured
student details must be added into the person affected section
datix if student’s patient injured
patients details into person affected
student details added as a witness
student number to be added into the summary of the event
3 BBV
HBV
HCV
HIV
