Infection control protocol

1. Always carry your Helper Kit with you.

2. If you are unwell, do not attend your session. Arrange with a member to reschedule. If the session cannot be rescheduled, work with the Matching Team to find another Helper to fill in.

   • If you think you might have COVID-19, follow the guidelines for COVID-19 testing.

3. Wash your hands following appropriate hand washing technique (see video) at these times:

   • before and after applying gloves or face mask

   • before touching food and eating

   • after going to the toilet

   • after your lunch or other breaks

   • after blowing your nose or coughing

   • after handling rubbish

   • after handling unwashed linen or clothing

   • after handling animals

   • when your hands are visibly dirty

   • after smoking

   • before and after any physical contact with a member

4. Follow proper cough etiquette:

   • Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing with a tissue or your elbow. Do not sneeze into your hand.

   • Perform hand hygiene straight after coughing or sneezing.

5. Apply gloves in these situations:

   • Gardening gloves: when gardening.

   • Single-use disposable gloves: when there is any risk of contact with bodily fluids, such as when changing sheets that may have been soiled. Check out the video for correct removal. If undertaking two different tasks requiring use of single-use gloves, use a separate pair for each task.

   • Reusable rubber gloves: when cleaning or washing dishes.

6. Single-use face masks need only be worn where there is a risk of splash when working around bodily fluids, e.g. heavily soiled sheets.

7. Follow the dress code and remove clothing that is not washed daily (such as cardigans and jackets) during personal care activities, food preparation and cleaning activities.

There are three different ways infections may be transmitted:

• airborne transmission, e.g. pulmonary tuberculosis, chickenpox, measles

• droplet transmission, e.g. influenza, pertussis (whooping cough), rubella

• contact transmission (direct or indirect), e.g. viral gastroenteritis, Clostridium difficile, MRSA, scabies, shingles

In these situations, follow all standard precautions, plus:

1. Apply a single-use surgical mask if a member has cold/flu-like symptoms or if you know they have an infection transmitted via droplets or an airborne route. If you think they might have COVID-19, request that they take a rapid antigen test, if they have one at hand. After the visit, dispose of the mask and complete appropriate hand hygiene. Check out the video for correct application and removal.

2. If a member is known to have COVID-19, reschedule the session until 7 days after they tested positive and symptoms have disappeared. Ensure this is recorded in the member's notes.

3. If you know a member is infected with viral gastroenteritis or another infection transmitted via contact, wear single-use gloves throughout the session. In the case of viral gastroenteritis, also don a face mask as this may also be transmitted by droplets.

This protocol is drawn from the Victorian Government guidelines on infection control: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/infection-control-standard-and-transmission-based-precautions