Universal Precautions, Basic Health, and Safety for Children

All children and adults are capable of transmitting viruses and are also susceptible to infections from certain viruses and bacteria. We recommend that when caring for any child in your home, you use Universal Precautions, which is the term for infection control measures used by health care workers and child protective providers to protect themselves from infectious diseases. Just as teachers, nurses and others who are community-based caregivers use universal precautions; so, too, must foster/adoptive parents.

The following Universal Precautions are recommended:

Wear disposable latex gloves to prevent possible exposure to blood-born viruses when cleaning body fluids, spills containing blood or if your hands have cuts, abrasions or a rash. Dispose of used gloves and cleaning materials in a tied plastic bag. You may wish to have non-latex gloves available in the event that you have a child with a latex allergy – You can’t clean a child’s wounds or change a child’s diapers with latex gloves if child has the allergy.
	Always wash hands thoroughly with warm water and soap immediately after having contact with blood or other body fluids. Regular soap is adequate. Disinfect regularly and as needed (1 part bleach to 10 parts water. Solution loses potency after 24 hours so should be remade).
Double bag and securely tie materials that are soaked in or caked with blood. Wash them separately from other items. Items for children with special needs (such as syringes for injections) will require a special container for safe disposal. Obtain a “sharps container.” You will want to speak with health educators regarding legal and proper disposal of syringes and lancets. Consider immunizations for Hepatitis A and B.

Refer your Resource Guide for "Cleaning Up Body Fluids."