What is the FIRST step when handling broken skin or exposure to blood?

What is the FIRST step when handling broken skin or exposure to blood?

• A. Continue with gloves
• B. Wash hands and proceed
• C. Ignore and resume
• D. Stop performing services

Answer: (D)

When safety and infection control are at stake, the priority is to halt the service immediately. The first step is to stop performing services. This pause prevents further risk of transmitting infection and protects both you and the client while you assess the situation and follow the proper protocol for exposure to blood or broken skin. After stopping, you would follow your facility’s procedures—wash hands, address any injury with appropriate first aid, don gloves only if you proceed after the protocol, and ensure the workspace is properly cleaned and documented before resuming. The other options would allow continuation or ignore the risk, which isn’t appropriate when exposure to bodily fluids is possible.

When safety and infection control are at stake, the priority is to halt the service immediately. The first step is to stop performing services. This pause prevents further risk of transmitting infection and protects both you and the client while you assess the situation and follow the proper protocol for exposure to blood or broken skin. After stopping, you would follow your facility’s procedures—wash hands, address any injury with appropriate first aid, don gloves only if you proceed after the protocol, and ensure the workspace is properly cleaned and documented before resuming. The other options would allow continuation or ignore the risk, which isn’t appropriate when exposure to bodily fluids is possible.