Procedure 615-Exposure to Communicable Diseases and Other Public Health Risks

Question 1

.02A. All officers, while exercising extreme caution when handling individuals having or suspected of having contagious diseases or parasites, will not intentionally;

Answer 1

ignore or avoid contact with those individuals when necessary in the performance of a lawful objective.

Question 2

.02C. shall strive to ensure the safety of all officers in situations involving the possible presence of contagious diseases, parasites, or infectious materials and evidence through the utilization of all available precautions and barriers prior to ordering officers into such situations;

Answer 2

Supervisory officers

Question 3

.05A. Officers responding to requests for police services who come into contact with individuals showing outward signs or manifestations, avoid unnecessary physical contact with the persons, other than for the following reasons:

Answer 3

1. The rendering of emergency first aid;
2. To stabilize a life-threatening situation;
3. To effect an arrest.

Question 4

.05B. Members forewarned of, or who suspect, the presence of a contagious disease or parasite take appropriate precautions to prevent unnecessary skin contact by using the various equipment provided in;

Answer 4

an Infection Barrier Kit.

Question 5

.05C. Members unable to avoid close personal contact with a person believed to have a contagious disease or parasite should decontaminate themselves and their vehicle;

Answer 5

as soon as possible in accordance with this procedure.

Question 6

.06A. Officers arresting persons with outward signs of contagious diseases or parasites, or persons;

Answer 6

suspected of having contagious diseases or parasites isolate those prisoners from other prisoners.

Question 7

.06B. Prisoners who require medical treatment as the result of highly contagious diseases are transported by;

Answer 7

an E.M.S. unit.

Question 8

.09D Prisoners who are suspected of having contagious diseases or parasites, but have been cleared from the need of medical attention are processed for the alleged offense with the nature of the suspected contagious disease or
parasite noted in the officer’s report and;

Answer 8

on the booking slip.

Question 9

.09D. Who is advised of the prisoner’s suspected condition at the time of booking?

Answer 9

The City of San Antonio Detention Center supervisor.

Question 10

.07B. At any scene where body fluids are present or where contagious diseases or parasites are suspected;

Answer 10

Officers should use Infection Barrier Kits

Question 11

.07C. Victims believed to have contagious diseases or parasites are not handled by officers, unless necessary, without;

Answer 11

protective gloves or other precautionary measures.

Question 12

.07D. At scenes where body fluids are present, or other contagious factors exist;

Answer 12

Officers shall not eat, drink, or smoke.

Question 13

.07E. Who is notified in cases where evidence is believed to be contaminated with infectious material, contagious diseases, or parasites and needs to be recovered /transported to the Property Room or the Medical Examiner’s Office?

Answer 13

The Crime Scene Unit is notified

Question 14

Officers shall notify members of the Crime Scene Unit the evidence may be contaminated with infectious material, contagious diseases, or parasites;

Answer 14

prior to the Crime Scene Unit member entering the scene and collecting the evidence.

Question 15

.07F. Evidence recovered at crime scenes, involving infectious material, or contagious diseases, before being placed in the Property Room, or taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office is;

Answer 15

properly packaged and clearly marked in accordance with Crime Scene Unit procedures

Question 16

.07G. The owner or person in charge of the premises where an incident occurred, to obtain the proper procedure for decontaminating the premises, is advised to contact the

Answer 16

Metropolitan Health District

Question 17

.09A. Members Potentially Exposed to Communicable Diseases: shall ensure the area of exposure is immediately washed and sanitized, and shall;

Answer 17

immediately notify their supervisor of the exposure incident.

Question 18

.09A. They, will arrange for the person who exposed the member to be tested/booked while the member, who was exposed to the communicable
disease, is treated at the hospital.

Answer 18

Supervisors

Question 19

.09A. In order to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, a member who claims a possible work-related exposure must be tested for Viral Hepatitis and HIV;

Answer 19

within 10 days of the exposure.

Question 20

.09A. Members are encouraged to immediately take the medications prescribed by physicians, as some medications are believed to reduce the risk of contracting HIV;

Answer 20

by 80% If taken within 2 hours of the exposure.

Question 21

.09A. Members, who believe they were exposed by a prisoner, refusing to be tested, will complete an Affidavit in Support of Mandatory Testing, and be assisted by;

Answer 21

Follow-up unit Detectives or the Night CID Unit Detectives will assist the officer in completing the affidavit.

Question 22

.09A. If members are accidentally exposed by a person other than a prisoner, he is asked to voluntarily submit to a test for communicable diseases;

Answer 22

at the City’s expense.

Question 23

.09A. The transportation of this person to University Hospital, if the person consents to the test, will be arranged for by;

Answer 23

a supervisor

Question 24

.09A. If the person does not consent to be tested, he will be identified and allowed to leave, and members will immediately contact the Homicide Unit or the Night CID Unit and complete the Affidavit for Testing, and once signed, it will immediately be;

Answer 24

delivered in person to the Accounting and Personnel Office.

Question 25

.09A. The Accounting and Personnel Office will hand deliver it;

Answer 25

no later than the next business day, to the Health Department‘s Epidemiologist.

Question 26

.09A. Who will arrange court proceedings to determine if the person who exposed the officer will undergo testing for communicable diseases?

Answer 26

The Health Department

Question 27

.09A. If the members are exposed to a patient’s blood or body fluids while rendering assistance at an emergency or while transporting the patient to the hospital:

Answer 27

a. The hospital may test for Hep B or C without consent.

b. Members should, first ask patient to voluntarily submit to a test.

Question 28

.09B. The assisting officer, guarding the prisoner will ask for voluntarily consent to a test, but regardless of whether he consents or refuses, he is asked to sign a Consent /Refusal to Draw Blood, the officer writes;

Answer 28

“Refused to Sign” on the portion of the form where

the prisoner is supposed to sign, then dates and signs the form as the witness.

Question 29

.09B. If the prisoner refuses to be tested for communicable diseases, the;

Answer 29

assisting officer will notify the follow-up unit/Night CID Unit and his supervisor.

Question 30

.09B. The follow-up unit Detectives or Night CID Unit Detectives will complete SAPD Order for Testing, and present it as well as copies of completed SAPD Forms #CD-1 and #CD-2 to a magistrate, having jurisdiction over the prisoner, to sign, then;

Answer 30

a copy is made and given to the personnel at University Hospital, so the prisoner can be tested.

Question 31

.09C. Once a supervisor is notified of a potential exposure incident, he will ensure the exposed officer and the prisoner are;

Answer 31

transported to University Hospital for testing.

Question 32

.09C. If members are accidentally exposed to infectious material by a person other than a prisoner and the person consents to the test;

Answer 32

a supervisor will arrange for the transportation of this person to University Hospital.

Question 33

.09C. The supervisor will properly complete all Workers’ Compensation forms and ensure all forms are delivered to the;

Answer 33

Accounting and Personnel Office

Question 34

.09E. Members who would like to know the results of the communicable diseases exams will call the;

Answer 34

Epidemiologist with the Health Department.

Question 35

.10A. For members who receive medical attention, as a result of exposure to contagious diseases, or parasites;

Answer 35

Supervisory officers complete all required Workers’ Compensation forms.

Question 36

.10B. Supervisory officers acknowledge receipt of the supplemental report, authenticate the incident, and make the reports a;

Answer 36

part of the officer’s departmental personnel file.

Question 37

.10D. Information regarding individuals exhibiting signs of communicable disease is confidential and not released other than;

Answer 37

through official police correspondence.

Question 38

.11A. A supply of Infection Barrier Kits and replacement items shall be available to all;

Answer 38

supervisors by the Fleet Services Management Office.

Question 39

.11B. Supervisors shall ensure Infection Barrier Kits are supplied in each marked police vehicle. Issuance of Infection Barrier Kits and replacement items shall be documented in a written log by members of;

Answer 39

the Fleet Services Management Office assigned to each substation.

Question 40

.11C. Members who need items for their Infection Barrier Kits shall notify their supervisor in writing. Supervisors shall replace these items and then forward the report to the;

Answer 40

member of the Fleet Services Management Office assigned to his substation.

Question 41

.11D. An adequate supply of Infection Barrier Kits and replacement items shall also be kept in stock at every substation for issuance to members by;

Answer 41

supervisors in emergency situations.

Question 42

.11E. Infection Barrier Kits consist of Infection Barrier Items and a CleanUp Kit;

Answer 42

packaged in 12” x 15” clear, re-sealable bags.

Question 43

.12B. The only acceptable method of disposal is to seal the items in one of the;

Answer 43

red disposable bags marked “Biohazard Infectious Waste” contained in the Infection Barrier Kits, and then taken to the Fleet Services Management Office.

Question 44

.12B. For officers to dispose of the [red] biohazard infectious waste bags, a large;

Answer 44

trash can marked “Biohazard Infectious Waste” will be placed directly outside of the Fleet Services Management Office.

Question 45

.12B. Officers disposing of biohazard infectious waste

shall document in a written report the method used for disposal. Copies of the report are routed to the;

Answer 45

officer’s supervisor and the Fleet Services Management Office.

Question 46

.12C. After the trash can labeled “Biohazard Infectious Waste” is full, a member of the Fleet Services Management Office will deliver the Biohazard Waste to;

Answer 46

the Health Department Lab

Question 47

.13B. Police vehicles are cleaned using the;

Answer 47

hospital grade disinfectant, which can be obtained through the Fleet Services Management Office.

Question 48

.13C. Police vehicles containing contagious disease or parasite are sealed and immediately returned to the assigned substation by;

Answer 48

contract wrecker for decontamination by the Fleet Services Management Office.

Question 49

.13C. Police vehicles are sealed by placing;

Answer 49

yellow police tape around the vehicle and placing a notice with the word “Contaminated” on the driver’s side window.

Question 50

.13C. The officer sealing the police vehicle shall send a written report detailing the reason for sealing the vehicle to;

Answer 50

his Unit/Shift Director and the Fleet Services Management Office.

Question 51

.13E. Prisoner transport wagons, as a precautionary measure against contagious diseases or parasites, shall be sprayed with a hospital grade disinfectant by the assigned officer;

Answer 51

upon completion of each tour of duty.

Question 52

.13E. The hospital grade disinfectant shall be supplied by the;

Answer 52

Fleet Services Management Office and kept in stock at any unit assigned a prisoner transport wagon.

Question 53

.14B. Prior to showering, contaminated clothing should be placed in a;

Answer 53

plastic bag and sprayed with a hospital grade disinfectant available at all substations.

Question 54

.14B. All directions on the disinfectant container should be followed before;

Answer 54

washing the clothes in soap and water.

Question 55

.14B. Officers, upon request, shall be provided with a soap and shampoo, which;

Answer 55

will kill parasites, and shall be supplied by the Fleet Services Management Office and kept in stock at every police substation.

Question 56

.15B. The officer will then take his approved report and his PPE Kit, for replacement of equipment and /or supplies.to;

Answer 56

the Armory and Supply Office

Question 57

.15E. When the need arises, officers may use their half face air purifying respirators, located in the unsealed portion of the PPE Kits;

Answer 57

at anytime during their tour of duty.

Question 58

.15E. Will replace these half face air purifying respirators as needed.

Answer 58

The Armorer

Question 59

.15E. A supply of these respirators will be kept in the ready room for officers to use when the Armory and Supply Office is closed, so that;

Answer 59

Supervisors can issue replacement equipment as needed.

Question 60

.15G. If the PPE Kit is deployed at an incident which did not require the Fire Department and if the officer has any reservations on how to dispose of the equipment or supplies, he shall;

Answer 60

have the dispatcher contact the Fire Department’s Haz-Mat Unit,

Question 61

.15H. Any new seals issued for PPE will be documented at the time of issuance and a copy of the new serial numbers, along with the officer’s monthly inspection report will be;

Answer 61

kept in the officer’s field file.

Question 62

.15I. Will schedule and ensure each officer under his command is annually refitted and tested with his full face air purifying respirator,

Answer 62

Unit/Shift Directors in January of each year,

Question 63

.15I. The supervisor will forward the officer’s report on loss or damage PPE through his chain of command to the;

Answer 63

Labor Relations Committee for a determination as to the cause and what extent the officer is responsible.

Question 64

.16 The PPE Kit, Mark 1 NAAK contains;

Answer 64

[3] - Mark 1 Nerve Agent Antidote Kits.

Question 65

Mark 1 Nerve Agent Antidote Kits contain:

Answer 65

• one auto injector of 2 mgs of Atropine.

* one auto injector with 600 mgs of 2 Pam-Chloride.

Question 66

.16B. The Mark 1 Nerve Agent Antidote Kits are only to be used on the officer by himself or other first responders who are;

Answer 66

already in their protective equipment.

Question 67

.16C. The Mark 1 Nerve Agent Antidote Kits are to be used by an officer when he believes;

Answer 67

he has been exposed to a nerve agent and begins showing signs and symptoms.

Question 68

.16C. Symptoms of nerve agents include:

Answer 68

Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation, Gastrointestinal Distress, or Emesis (SLUDGE).

Question 69

.16C. If an officer believes he has been exposed to a nerve agent, the officer shall:

Answer 69

a. remove himself from area;
b. notify the dispatcher to start EMS;
c. empty front pockets;
d. Measure a hand above knee /below the hip;
e. Inject Mark 1 NAAAK injectors both thighs.
[Recommend inject both thighs simultaneously]

Question 70

.16C. To help EMS determine how many series of shots the officer has taken, after injections, place the

Answer 70

bottom cap of each of the Mark 1 Nerve Agent Antidote Kits on his fingers.

Question 71

.16C. An officer shall a second time inject himself if he continues to feel the effects of the;

Answer 71

nerve agent (SLUDGE) after 10 minutes.

Question 72

.16C. An officer shall a third time inject himself if he continues to feel the effects of the;

Answer 72

nerve agent (SLUDGE) after 10 minutes.

Question 73

.16C. Officers shall not inject themselves with more than the;

Answer 73

three Mark 1 Nerve Agent Antidote Kits provided in their PPE Kits in a given day.