Biomedical Spills in the Client's Home

When a biomedical spill happens in the home environment, care must be taken to protect yourself, the client, and the client’s family and friends from exposure.  Before the start of cleanup, you will need the following items:

• Rubber gloves
• Mask or handkerchief
• Kitchen tongs or pliers—to pick up any sharp items
• Cat litter, sand, or paper towels to absorb liquid waste
• Plastic bottle with lid—to contain any sharp items
• Household bleach
• Glasses or goggles
• Large shirt or plastic garbage bag—to cover your clothes
• Plastic bags—to contain soiled items
• Broom and dustpan or household spatula—to pick up the litter or sand after absorption
• Heavy-duty tape

Here is the cleanup procedure:

1. Cover your clothes with an old shirt or plastic bag.  Put on gloves.
2. Use glasses or goggles and mask or handkerchief if there is a chance of splashing blood or body fluids.
3. Using tongs or pliers, pick up any sharp objects and place them in a hard plastic or metal container with a screw-on or tightly secured lid.  Be sure to reinforce the lid with heavy-duty tape. 
4. Apply cat litter, sand, or paper towels directly onto any liquid waste until it becomes absorbed.
5. Sweep the absorbed material into a dustpan or scoop it up with a household spatula and place it in a doubled, plastic garbage bag.  Securely tie the bag.
6. Mix one-half cup of bleach with one gallon of water.  Wipe the entire soiled area with this solution, preferably with disposable paper towels.  Place the used paper towels in a doubled, plastic garbage bag and securely tie the bag. 
7. Allow any reusable items, like dustpan, spatula, or household broom to soak in bleach solution for several hours, then rinse with clean water and allow to air dry completely before using again.
8. Be sure all disposable items are in plastic bags that are securely tied.  Place the plastic bags and the metal or plastic containers in the center of your garbage can.  Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.