What do you think of throwing away "soiled" items in regular trash?

[NewbieNurse2005]

I'm a nursing student, and today we were practicing changing wet-to- dry dressings and we were told that the only dressings that could "red bagged" were ones that were dripping wet with blood or flaking..... I for one think that is a biohazard and totally disgusting.... am I wrong to think that way?????? I was told the reason they did that was to "cut costs" do all facilties do this??? :stone

Anyones opion will be very helpful. Thanks.

[SmilingBluEyes]

thank you, girlfromtx.

[not now, RN]

I always put used briefs and wipes in the bathroom trashcan. I figure poop goes in the bathroom and the door closes so briefs can go there too.

Some facilities I've worked in (or had clinical in) had a bigger trash in the room. I was the same size as the dirty linen but black instead of blue. I throw them in there sometimes because it has a lid.

Yes, I used the word "poop".

[dwetherelt]

While hospitals are looking to decrease the poundage of disposal of red-bags (because it is VERY expensive) no one is looking to increase infection. Check with your Infection Control people, one IC defined contamination is when something has more than 20ml biohazardous material on it ~ then it would be more likely to "drip" and cause a contamination. I agree with Fiona, tie it up in the trash bag ~

[lil' girl, LPN]

We just went over this today, our instructor told us that if it was less than 20cc's of blood, drainage , etc, that it should go in regular trash, but you fold it over pull your gloves off over it and THEN throw it away.