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Needle Stick/Blood and Body Fluid Exposures

Response to Blood and Body Fluid Exposure

In the event of exposure to blood or body fluids you should IMMEDIATELY:

  • Wash the affected area with soap and water or for eye involvement, flush with clean water or normal saline
  • Contact Employee/Student Health during weekday hours (7:30 am – 4:00 pm) at 315-464-4260
  • Report to the Emergency Department after hours or on weekends, and identify yourself as an Upstate student. Follow up with Employee/Student Health on the next business day. 

If an exposure occurs in University Hospital or other Syracuse Area Facilities, including Crouse Hospital, Veterans Administration Hospital, or St. Joseph’s Hospital:

Call Employee/Student Health as above.  Report to Upstate’s University Hospital Emergency Department after hours, weekends, and holidays.

If an exposure occurs in Facilities Outside of the Syracuse Area, including Binghamton Clinical Campus:

Follow that facility’s exposure protocol or report to the nearest Emergency Department.  Also, please contact Employee/Student Health at 315-464-5470, ext 4, as soon as possible to make us aware of the exposure and to help coordinate follow up plans.

Post-exposure Evaluation and Management

  • Notify Employee/Student Health as soon as possible, regardless of the facility where the exposure occurred
  • Employee/Student Health or the Emergency Department practitioner determines the type and extent of exposure and coordinates assessment and testing of the student
  • Student will be notified of follow up plans which will be coordinated by Employee/Student Health

Effects on Medical Student Learning Activities

In the event of exposure, medical students should contact Employee/Student Health @ 315-464-4260 as soon as possible.  If learning activities are interrupted, The Director of Employee/Student Health, upon verification and understanding of specific scenario, will contact the Dean of Student Affairs.  The Dean will communicate and make arrangements with faculty regarding absence, make up of work, and future action plan.

 

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