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Bloodborne Pathogens for Volunteers

Understand HBV, HCV, and HIV, treat all blood as infectious, protect yourself with universal precautions and PPE, and know what to do after an exposure.

40 min Beginner 7 modules Pass 80%
For: Volunteers, coaches, camp and event staff, first-aid helpers, and anyone who might encounter blood or bodily fluids while serving

What you’ll learn

  • Know what bloodborne pathogens are — HBV, HCV, and HIV — and why they matter to volunteers
  • Understand how exposure happens, and what is and is not a real transmission risk
  • Apply universal (standard) precautions: treat all blood and bodily fluids as infectious
  • Choose and use PPE — gloves and barriers — correctly, then remove it safely
  • Clean up blood and handle sharps and spills the safe way
  • Use hand hygiene as your single most important protection
  • Respond to an exposure the right way: wash, report, and seek medical evaluation

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Course outline

  1. 1

    What bloodborne pathogens are — and why volunteers should care

    Meet HBV, HCV, and HIV, and understand where this awareness course fits (and does not).

    6 min Quiz Interactive
  2. 2

    How exposure happens — and what is NOT a risk

    Real routes of transmission, the fluids that count, and the everyday contact that does not.

    6 min Quiz
  3. 3

    Universal precautions: treat all blood as infectious

    The single rule that drives everything — plus the chain of infection you are breaking.

    6 min Quiz Interactive
  4. 4

    PPE: gloves, barriers, and taking them off safely

    The personal protective equipment volunteers actually use, and the right way to remove it.

    5 min Quiz Written + interactive
  5. 5

    Safe cleanup, sharps, and spills

    How to clean blood safely, handle sharps without getting stuck, and when to step back.

    6 min Quiz Interactive
  6. 6

    Hand hygiene: your single most important protection

    Why clean hands beat everything else, and how to do it right with soap or sanitizer.

    5 min Quiz Interactive
  7. 7

    After an exposure: wash, report, get evaluated

    The exact steps if blood gets on your broken skin, in your eyes, or through a sharp — and why speed matters.

    6 min Quiz Written + interactive

Sources & further reading

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