In an effort to keep Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system responders—and the patients they care for—safe and healthy, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has developed a free, downloadable Guide to Infection Prevention in Emergency Medical Services.
"EMS system responders deliver medical care in many unique and oftentimes dangerous environments," said Janet Woodside, RN, MSN, COHN-S, lead author of the guide, and EMS program manager for Portland, Ore. Fire and Rescue. "APIC saw a need to develop this guide because EMS agencies, including public safety and fire, needed a comprehensive, easy-to-use resource to enhance their knowledge of infection prevention strategies."
Developed by a team of infection prevention experts, the guide presents topic-specific information in a user-friendly format that includes numerous examples, tools, checklists, and references to help increase the understanding of:
•Infection prevention standards and regulations
•Infectious diseases in EMS and strategies to prevent transmission
•Use of personal protective equipment, disinfection procedures, and hand hygiene
•Occupational exposure health issues
•Surveillance and risk assessments in the EMS setting
•Emergency, disaster, and bioterrorism preparedness
APIC Implementation Guides (formerly Elimination Guides) provide practical, evidence-based strategies for surveillance and elimination of infection. Implementation Guides are created to provide infection preventionists with practical, "how-to" information and online tools and resources that encompass the latest research and regulatory requirements. Open access ensures that this information, critical to the care of patients, is available to the widest possible audience.
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