Busting Myths About Blood Borne Pathogens
At OC Safety, our mission is to create a safer world by providing the high-quality safety training courses that first responders, medical professionals, and other workers in dangerous environments need to protect and save lives. While many workplace dangers are clear and obvious, there are many hazards that aren’t so easy to spot upon first glance. Blood borne pathogens are an example of these dangers. BBPs include conditions like HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Herpes Simplex Virus 1 & 2, and many more viruses and microorganisms. To help clarify the dangers of and best practices for avoiding blood borne pathogens (BBPs), we wanted to dispel a few common myths about blood borne pathogens.
Top Myths About Blood Borne Pathogens
BBPs are dangerous: though invisible, exposure to even a minuscule amount of blood can cause infection transmission. However there are many myths about BBPs. Here are a few blood borne pathogen myths we can put to rest for good:
- Myth: Vaccinations Guarantee Protection. While vaccinations do help to prevent infection from a pathogen or illness, they aren’t 100% effective and don’t guarantee your safety if you’re exposed to a BBP. Even if you’ve received all standard vaccines, you should still seek treatment after being exposed to blood.
- Myth: There’s No Way to Prevent Infection After Exposure. While the best option is always to prevent exposure, there are still steps you can take if you’ve been exposed to blood. Many pathogens can be prevented retroactively after an exposure so long as you seek immediate treatment.
- Myth: Viruses Stop Being Contagious When Exposed to Oxygen. While many viruses break down when exposed to air outside the body, there are a host of environmental processes that can delay or prevent this process. Many viruses can even lie dormant outside of a host for years, remaining dangerous long after exiting a host.
The Importance of OSHA Blood Borne Pathogen Certification
We’re glad to put an end to these BBP myths, but unfortunately, there’s much more misinformation about BBPs and proper BBP protocol. Thankfully, OC Safety offers a Blood Borne Pathogen Certification Class that provides comprehensive training on how to handle blood safely, how to minimize or eliminate the risk of exposure to BBPs, and what to do in case of exposure. For anyone that risks coming into contact with human blood on a regular basis, be they a nurse, paramedic, firefighter, or even tattoo artist, Blood Borne Pathogen Certification is vital to preventing BBP exposure and staying healthy.
Contact Orange County Safety Training Course Experts
Whether you yourself work in an environment with a risk for BBP exposure or you manage employees who are at risk, Blood Borne Pathogen Certification is vital. At OC Safety, we’re proud to offer a comprehensive Blood Borne Pathogen Certification course that’s fully compliant with all OSHA and regulatory standards. Get the protection that you and your team need: contact OC Safety today to sign up for safety classes for yourself and your organization!