KFLA&A Public Health
Infection Control-Routine Practices
What are Routine Practices?
Routine practices are normal work activities used to protect students, yourself, and co-workers from potential infectious diseases. Routine practices assume that all blood and/or body fluids could transmit disease.
If you are going to have contact with body fluids:
- Blood
- Urine
- Feces
- Oral secretions
- Wound drainage
- Anything "wet and goopy and not your own"
Then you should follow routine practices.
- Hand hygiene is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of infection.
- Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) may include one or all of the following:
- Gloves
- Gowns
- Mask and Eye Protection
- Other routine practices include:
- Cleaning and disinfection
- Proper handling of soiled clothing or linen
- Garbage disposal
- Safe sharps disposal
Refer to Appendix A - Routine Practices C
Other considerations:
- Toileting or diapering
- Blood or body fluids spills
- Equipment and toys
- Contact with animals
- Snoezelen Room
Toileting and Diapering
When toileting or diapering a student, if the environment becomes visibly soiled with urine or feces; a two step method of cleaning and disinfection should be completed. Proper hand hygiene must be included for staff and for students. Refer to Appendix B - Diapering Procedures.
Blood or Body Fluid Spills
All blood and body fluid spills, secretions and/or excretions should be cleaned up immediately. Always wear appropriate PPE. Ensure product used for cleaning and disinfection is effective against bacteria and viruses. Always follow manufacturers instruction for use, particularly contact times for product. Never use mops for cleaning up blood and body fluid spills. Refer Appendix C - Blood and Body Fluid Exposures: Information for Childcare Providers.
Equipment and Toys
Any equipment or toys that can be potentially contaminated with body fluids (i.e. drool from mouthing toys), must be cleaned and disinfected between each student. Disinfection of equipment or toys should be done on a daily basis.
Equipment may include: mats, bean bag chairs, keyboards, computer mouse, headsets, musical instruments, etc.
Note: Mats used in high needs rooms as "seizure beds" should be cleaned and disinfected between uses.
Contact with Animals
Ensure cages or living quarters of classroom pets are kept clean. Waste should be disposed of regularly and litter boxes should not be accessible to students. Children should be supervised when handling animals. Proper hand hygiene after contact is a must! Reptiles are not suitable as pets in schools as many species may carry salmonella and/or other organisms.
Special attention should be made when visiting farms or animal displays. Students must practice proper hand hygiene after contact with animals, animal feces, before eating or drinking, and before departure. Sttudents must not to eat or drink anything while touring the farm (eat meals in designated areas), not put fingers in mouths, not eat anything which may have fallen on ground or any animal food.
Routine Practices from the KFL&A Public Health
Hand Hygiene
- Hand hygiene in school is performed using soap and water.
- Before and after each student contact.
- Before preparing, handling, serving or eating food.
- Before moving to another activity.
- Before putting on and after taking off gloves and personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Whenever hands look dirty or come into contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, and/or excretions, soap and water should be used.
- After contact with items in the student's environment.
- After handling pets and/or cleaning pet cages.
- After using the toilet hands should be washed with soap and water.
Gloves
- Wearing gloves is NOT a substitute for hand hygiene.
- Use for touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, dirty surfaces or items, and non-intact skin, or new rash.
- Avoid contaminating the environment by ensuring gloves are removed promptly.
- Perform hand hygiene after removal.
- Change gloves between each student.
Gown
- Use to prevent soiling of clothes.
- Not needed for all care, but should be used during procedures and activities likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions.
- Mask & Eye Protection
- Protect eyes, nose and mouth during procedures and care activities likely to generate splashes of blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions.
- Wear within 2 meters of a coughing/sneezing student or when a known risk of coughing or sneezing can be expected.
Cleaning and Disinfection
- All equipment should be cleaned between each student.
- Disinfection of surfaces should be done daily or when there has been a blood or body fluid spill. Pay attention to high touch surfaces (i.e. light switches, railings, keyboards, etc.).
Proper Handling of Soiled Clothing or Linen
- Handle soiled clothing and/or linen carefully to prevent contamination of clothing or environment.
- Soiled clothing and/or linen should be bagged and sent home with student at end of day.
Garbage Disposal
- Wear gloves.
- Do not put hands blindly into a pail or container.
- Pour contents from one container to another.
- Hold bags away from your body and do not push down to prevent potential punctures.
- Do not overload bags.
- Double bag if necessary (i.e. heavy wet garbage).
Safe Sharps Disposal
- Please remember: LDSB staff do not administer needles to students in our schools.
- NEVER RECAP USED NEEDLES
- Prevent injuries from needles, broken glass and other material capable of causing cuts by disposing safely in a puncture resistant container.
Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Health Unit