STAY CALM.
STEP 1
Gently squeeze the area surrounding the needle stick injury to expel blood.
STEP 2
Wash the wound with cold running water and soap if available.
STEP 3
Apply an antiseptic and band-aid.
STEP 4
As soon as possible, contact your:
• Emergency service at the local hospital
• sexual health service
• family doctor
• community health centre.
These services will advise you if there is a need for HIV or hepatitis B/C testing, counselling, possible hepatitis B vaccination or HIV Prophylaxis, a treatment that can prevent HIV infection from picked up from a needle stick injury.
REMEMBER: If possible, keep the needle and syringe that caused the injury (for evidence). There is an extremely LOW risk that you will contract HIV or hepatitis C from a needle stick injury sustained in a community setting (eg. park, beach, street, backyard). There is a treatment available for reducing the risk of contracting HIV, if it is taken within 72 hours of exposure to the virus.
GO TO THE HOME PAGE
This article has been reproduced from http://www.quihn.org
by courtesy of QuIHN who hold copyright.
Please note that copyright varies throughout the site. If you would like
to reproduce information from this site, please note the author and contact
them.
