[ES-Fire-EMS] To Red bag or Not to Red Bag

[mbf]

April 28, 2005

TO:    Eastern Shore EMS Agencies

PLEASE REVIEW WITH PERSONNEL & POST


ALL AMBULANCE PERSONNEL
- Drivers, Support, Students, Attendants, Etc.

In a recent departmental spot-check (JACHO ready?) the ER/ED was made aware
of the disposal of a red biohazard bag in the regular waste disposal
container provided for EMS. There are multiple federal regulations and
policies regarding medical waste, in which the hospital deals with for us.
A basic headache-free rule for EMS: Put the right items in the right
containers and the hospital will do the rest.

There are two waste disposal cans provided in the ER ambulance entrance for
EMS use:

REGULATED MEDICAL WASTE container is easily identified by its biohazard
label and is lined with a RED bag. A rule of thumb is if the item has
droppable, squeezable, or pourable blood or other body fluids or would be if
soaked during a transport then place these items in a red bag.

NON REGULATED WASTE (regular trash) is identified by a CLEAR-LINED bag. In
addition to regular paper and plastic items - mainly container wrappings,
other items that may be placed in the regular trash are:

Band-Aids and 2x2's/ 4x4's containing small amts. of blood or body fluids.

Suctions catheters, nasal cannulas/ O2 devices, NG tubes, diapers, tissues.

Empty suction canisters and/or tubing, empty IV solution bags and/or tubing
and empty bedpans and/or urinals.


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