How do I protect myself?

Hepatitis C is transmitted through contaminated blood. Therefore, any contact with infected blood by sharing needles, razors and toothbrushes, and receiving blood or blood products, poses a risk of hepatitis C infection. A lot about how the hepatitis C virus survives outside the body is still unknown. According to the Canadian Liver Foundation, the virus can survive freezing and seems to be stable in blood at room temperature for several hours.

There are a many things you can do to protect yourself from getting the hepatitis C virus:

• Do not share any equipment for drug use, tattooing or body piercing
• Do not share razors or toothbrushes
• Practise safe sex by using a condom
• Keep your own cuts and sores covered, especially in the workplace
• When working in an environment that deals with blood, always use Routine Practices for Infection Control.

ROUTINE PRACTICES FOR INFECTION CONTROL

Routine Practices for Infection Control are four steps used to prevent the spread of diseases by germs in blood, body fluids and non-intact skin. Examples of diseases include hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS.

You can be exposed to HIV, hepatitis B and C viruses if:

• Infected blood enters your body through a break in your skin
• You touch your eye with blood on your fingers
• Blood is splashed into your eyes, mouth or nose.

Routine Practices for Infection Control include:

1. Wearing latex gloves. They will reduce the risk of infected blood entering your body through breaks in the skin
2. Cleaning any blood-covered areas. Clean the bloodied surfaces with soap and water and then diluted bleach. To dilute the bleach, mix 62.5 millilitres (1/4 cup) of household bleach in 625 millilitres (2 ½ cups) of water. Let air dry for about 10 minutes. Note that the bleach solution should be mixed daily
3. Disposing of bloodied materials in a covered plastic-lined container
4. Next, take off the gloves and wash your bare hands in soap and water. Dry your hands with paper towels or a hot-air dryer.

Routine Practices for Infection Control enhance, not replace hand washing.

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