River Forest High School

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River Forest Community School Corporation

Administrative Guidelines


All school staff should be aware of the risks involved when exposed to and dealing with body fluids. It must be assumed

that all body fluids are potentially infectious and by following procedures for universal infection control the risks can be

greatly reduced and the possibility of accidental infection can be minimized or prevented. A surface should be considered

contaminated if blood or the reasonably anticipated presence of blood or other potentially infectious body fluids occur,

even if the contaminates have dried. Certain pathogens (e.g. HCV) remain viable for extended periods in dried blood.

Sources of Infectious Organisms in Body Fluids

Source Organism Transmission

Blood HBV Contact with broken

skin or membrane

- cuts/abrasions HCV

- nosebleeds HIV/AIDS

- menses Cytomegalovirus

- needles

- human bites

Feces HAV Oral inoculation from

hands or food

Salmonella bacteria

Shigella bacteria


Urine Cytomegalovirus Bloodstream, oral, and

mucus membrane

inoculation from hands

Respiratory Secretions HBV Bloodstream, oral, and

mucous membrane

- saliva Tuberculosis

- nasal discharge Mononucleosis V

Influenza V

Common cold V


Source Organism Transmission

Vomitus Gastrointestinal V Oral from contaminated

- may contain blood (Rotavirus) hands (see "blood")

See "blood"

Semen HBV Sexual contact

HIV/AIDS (unprotected)

Venereal Disease

Materials and equipment required and made available to dispose of body fluids include:

Antibacterial soap

Portable water

Paper towels

Latex and non-allergenic gloves

Hazardous material bags (red) and labels

Hazardous material (sharps) container

(puncture proof and leak proof)

Buckets and mops

Universal Infection Control Procedures When Handling and Disposing of Body Fluids


1. Wear disposable latex or non-allergenic gloves before making

contact with body fluids during care, treatment, and all cleaning


2. Dispose of gloves and disposable cleaning materials in

accordance with public health guidelines.

3. Wash hands with an antibacterial soap-even if gloves are worn.

4. Use disposable items to handle body fluids whenever possible. If

handling vomitus or feces, use a second barrier (i.e. plastic bag) in

addition to gloves.


1. Use soap and warm running water. Use antibacterial soap when


2. Rub hands together to work up a lather-scrub between fingers,

knuckles, backs of hands, under fingernails.

3. Rinse thoroughly.

4. Dry with paper towel or hot air. If paper towels are used, dispose of

in an appropriate container.


1. Tables, desks (wear gloves)

a. Use household bleach solution of one (1) part bleach to

ten (10) parts water-freshly mixed.

b. Rinse with fresh water.

c. Repeat "a"

d. Repeat "b"

e. Allow to air dry.

f. Dispose of gloves and wiping materials in a hazardous

waste container.

2. Floors (wear gloves)

a. Use household bleach solution as previously described.

b. Use a mop and two buckets - one for bleach solution and

one for rinse water (with bleach or Lysol solution).

1) in bucket #1, dip, wring, mop up vomitus, blood

2) dip, wring, and mop until body fluids are cleaned


3) dip mop into bucket #2, wring, re-mop (rinse) area

4) continue cycle until all spills are cleaned up - using

fresh solutions as necessary

c. Soak mop in disinfectant solution after use.

d. Pour solutions down a drain pipe – flush thoroughly.

e. Rinse non-disposable cleaning equipment in disinfectant.

f. Dispose of gloves in a hazardous waste container.

g. Wash hands as described in B.

D. Non-washable surfaces (rugs, upholstery)

1. Apply sanitary absorbing agent, dry, vacuum.

2. Remove solid materials with broom and dustpan – use second

barrier if necessary to use hands.

3. Apply rug or upholstery shampoo as directed - vacuum according

to directions.

4. Clean dustpan and broom (if used) in disinfectant solution - air.

5. Dispose of gloves.

6. Wash hands as described in B.

E. Washable Materials (clothing, towels, etc.)

1. Rinse item under running water.

2. Place item in a bag and seal until item is ready to be washed.

Bags containing soiled, washable material must be clearly

identified as "Hazardous Material" if an outside laundry service is

used. Contact-sports uniforms should be closely inspected for

blood and handled in an appropriate manner.

3. Rinse and wipe sink with paper towels – dispose of towels.

4. Wash potentially contaminated materials separate from others – dry

as usual. If material is color-fast add one-half (1/2) cup bleach to the

wash cycle. Otherwise, add one-half (1/2) cup non-chlorine bleach

(Clorox II, Borateem) to the wash cycle.

5. Dispose of gloves in a hazardous waste container.

6. Wash hands as described in B.

Accessibility of equipment and materials

A. Latex and/or non-allergenic gloves shall be available.

B. Cleaning equipment and solutions as described in the Materials and

Equipment section shall be made readily available to all work stations.

C. A hazardous material container (biohazard container, sharps container)

with a cover which is puncture proof and leak proof shall be kept in a

central location (nurse's station) for proper disposal of needles and lancets

used for medicinal purposes. Periodically, this container shall be disposed

of and replaced in accordance with public health guidelines.

D. Broken glass, plastics, or other small materials which have been

contaminated with body fluids shall be placed in a puncture-proof, leakproof

container with a lid.

E. Hazardous waste (red) trash bags shall be used as needed as described

in guidelines and disposed of in a timely manner in accordance with public

health guidelines.

This guideline is not meant as an all-inclusive list of infectious organisms that may be contained in body fluids.

Revised 3/12

© NEOLA 2006

Last Modified on August 11, 2016