Final answer:
To clean up body fluids such as blood, wear protective clothing and clean any skin contact with detergent and a disinfectant like bleach. Contaminated materials should be properly disposed of, and surfaces disinfected with a bleach solution to prevent infection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The proper way to clean up body fluids such as blood involves multiple steps that are designed to minimize the risk of infection from bloodborne pathogens like hepatitis B virus (HBV). First, personnel should wear a protective coat, face protection, and cut-resistant gloves before handling contaminated material. If there is any contact with skin, the area should be washed immediately with detergent and warm water, followed by a wash with 1 N NaOH or a 1:10 dilution of bleach for one minute.
Contaminated waste must be incinerated or autoclaved in a strong basic solution, and instruments must be cleaned and soaked in the same type of solution. For healthcare workers, additional precautions include the use of disposable syringes and needles, and after exposure to potentially infected blood, treatment with HBIG and vaccination may follow. Finally, surfaces can be disinfected with a 10% bleach solution to mitigate the risk of infection.