Agenda - Council - 05/28/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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A I D Donating Blood Donating blood is not risky at ail You cannot got AIDS by donating blood Receiving Blood In the U.S. everyblood donor is screened to exclude high risk persons and every blood donation is now tested for the presence of antibodies to the AIDS virus. Blood that shows exposure to the AIDS virus by the presence of antibodies is not used either for transfusion or for the manufacture of blood products. Blood banks are as safe as current tech- noJogy can make them. Because antibodies do not form immediately after exposure to the virus, a newly'infected person may unknowingly donate blood aider becoming infected but before his/her antibody test becomes posi- five. It is estimated that this might occur less than once in I00,000 donations. There is no danger of AIDS virus infection from visiting a doctor, dentist, hospital, hah'dresser or beautician. AIDS A I D ~v.~ot He rr~smined non-sexually from an infected per- ~o~: t~u-ougi~ a health or service provider to another person~ Ordinary methods of disinfection for urine, stool and vomitus which are used for non-infected people are ade- quate for people who have AIDS or are carrying the AIDS virus. You may have wondered why your dentist wears gloves and perhaps a mask when treating you. This does not mean that he hasAiDS or that he thinks you do, He is protecting you and himself from hepatitis, common colds or flu, Ti:ere is no danger in visiting a patient with AIDS or caring for him or her. Normal hygienic practices, like wip. ing of body fluid spills with a s61ution of water and house- hold bleach (1 part household bleach to 10 parts water), will provide full protection, Clm'ldren in School None of the identified cases of AIDS in the United States are known or are suspected to have been transmitted fzom one child to another in school, day care, or foster care settings. Transmission would necessitate exposure of open s I I I I I I t'.. i