are wearing gloves.
3. Handle needles or lancets carefully
These are used for people living with diabetes who inject themselves with medicine to test their blood for diabetes. When dealing with needles or lancets, pay close attention to how you are handling them to avoid sticking yourself. If you do accidentally stick yourself, contact your doctor as soon as possible for further evaluation and/or treatment with antiviral medications. The risk of developing an HIV infection is about 1 in 300, but this risk can be greatly reduced if you get treatment right away, preferably within 1 to 2 hours, according to the CDC.
4. Treat wounds with caution
If your loved one injuries themself, you’ll need to take precautions when dressing the wound and cleaning up the blood. Wear gloves when treating any wounds and cleaning up the area.
Avoid putting the needles back on the cap with your bare hand.
If you are handling used syringes, you should carefully pick them up by the barrel and drop them into a puncture-proof container.
Additionally, if you are caring for someone with HIV, remember these tips from Kaiser Permanente:
- Wash clothing and linens as you normally would. The clothes do not need to be separated from the rest of the household laundry.
- Separate dishes or eating utensils are not needed. Dishes used by a person infected with HIV do not require special methods of cleaning.
- Let the person infected with HIV prepare meals if he or she would like to. The virus cannot be spread through food handling.
- Do not share razors or toothbrushes with anyone who has HIV because these items sometimes have blood on them.
- Flush all liquid waste that contains blood down the toilet.
- Place in a plastic bag all items that are soiled with blood, semen, or vaginal fluid and are not flushable, such as paper towels, sanitary pads and tampons, and wound dressings. Close the bag securely before placing it in a trash container. Check with your doctor or local health department to be sure you are following proper disposal regulations for your area.
RELATED: The Caregiver’s Survival Guide
Getting assistance
Being a caregiver for someone with HIV may not always be easy. If you are unsure of what to do in a particular situation, contact your loved one’s doctor. In some cases, if you are unsure of how to proceed or uncomfortable with performing a task, doctors may be able to provide in-home nursing assistance. Caring for someone that is living with HIV does come with some risks, but you can greatly eliminate your risk by understanding the best way to protect yourself.