HCV FIRST AID

Hepatitis C (HCV)

                                                                                                    

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that causes inflammation (swelling and pain) of the liver. This virus is present in the blood of an infected person and can be spread through blood-to-blood contact. 

Hepatitis C is one type of hepatitis - a liver disease - caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It usually spreads through contact with infected blood. It can also spread through sex with an infected person and from mother to baby during childbirth.

Most people who are infected with hepatitis C don't have any symptoms for years. A blood test can tell if you have it. Usually, hepatitis C does not get better by itself. The infection can last a lifetime and may lead to scarring of the liver or liver cancer. Medicines sometimes help, but side effects can be a problem. Serious cases may need a liver transplant.

Precautions before first aid.

  wash hands using soap and warm water (warm 

water helps break down skin surface oils which 

can trap contaminants more easily)

• cover any cuts or abrasions on your own skin 

using sterile dressing (eg. bandaid)

• put on disposable latex or rubber gloves.

AFTER....

wash hands immediately using soap & warm 

water, regardless of whether disposable gloves 

have been worn

Mop up and wash blood or other body fluid 

splashed surfaces with detergent and water 

(ideally, disposable gloves should be worn for 

cleaning and waste handling)

• discard materials used to wipe up blood or other 

body fluids in a plastic bag

• remove clothing splashed with blood or other 

body fluids and wash as normal

• give hands a final wash using soap & water, 

regardless of whether disposable gloves have 

been worn.

Principles for infection control

• your skin is your first line of defence. Make 

sure you have no uncovered cuts, abrasions or 

dermatitis

• wear disposable rubber gloves when dealing 

with any blood or other body fluids - and within 

the steps below

• disposable materials (eg. paper towel) should 

be used when cleaning up blood or other body 

fluid spills or splashes

• any surfaces which have had blood or other 

body fluid splashes should be cleaned with 

detergent and water.

What to do if contact with blood or other body 

fluids does occur.......

• wash the blood or other body fluid away as soon 

as possible, preferably with soap and water

• rinse away any blood or other body fluids from 

the eyes, nose and mouth with plenty of water

• injuries such as cuts and needlesticks should 

be washed with normal saline or soapy water, 

encouraged to bleed and then covered using a 

sterile dressing (eg. adhesive plaster)

• In the workplace, any accidental exposure 

should be reported accordingly as per the 

relevant workplace policy