Scene Safety, Personal Protection, and Infection Control
What the exam tests
This domain tests scene survey, hazard control, body-substance isolation, PPE selection and removal, hand hygiene, and safe disposal of contaminated items.
Core rules
- Survey before approaching: traffic, fire, smoke, electrical hazards, unstable structures, moving machinery, violence, and hazardous materials. If the scene is unsafe, withdraw, isolate the area, and call trained responders.
- Use standard precautions for all patients: treat all blood and body fluids as infectious.
- Select PPE based on exposure risk: gloves for bleeding control; eye protection and mask for splash risk; gown or apron for large-volume contamination; N95 or higher for airborne precautions when trained and fit-tested.
- Remove PPE without self-contamination: gloves last, then perform hand hygiene with soap and water or alcohol-based rub.
- Dispose of sharps in a puncture-resistant sharps container; bag contaminated waste per workplace policy. Report exposures immediately.
Worked example
A worker collapses beside a leaking forklift battery. The first aider stops at the perimeter, notes the battery acid and moving forklift, asks the area supervisor to isolate the vehicle, dons gloves and eye protection, and approaches only after the forklift is locked out. If acid splash occurs, the first aider irrigates the eyes and seeks medical care.
Traps that cost marks
- Rushing to the patient before controlling traffic or machinery.
- Wearing gloves for every task but forgetting hand hygiene after removal.
- Removing gloves first or touching the face during PPE removal.
- Recapping needles or placing sharps in ordinary trash.
Key points
- Scene safety comes before patient contact.
- Standard precautions apply to every patient.
- Match PPE to the exposure risk and remove it without contamination.
- Hand hygiene follows PPE removal.
- Report exposures and dispose of waste per policy.