Chapter 4 Safety and Infection Control 125 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 18. Repeat the procedure to begin pulling the other arm out of its sleeve. Do not to touch the outside of the gown with your bare hands as you pull the gown down off your shoulders and arms (Figure 4.29). Wards Forest Media, LLC Figure 4.29 Wards Forest Media, LLC Figure 4.30 22. Dispose of the contaminated gown in the appropriate waste container. Do not wear the gown again. It must be discarded as infectious waste. A reusable cloth gown is worn only once. Then it is handled as contaminated linen. Follow-up 23. Wash your hands according to procedure to ensure infection control. 24. Dry your hands with a clean, dry paper towel. Discard the paper towel in the proper waste container. 25. Use another clean, dry paper towel to turn off the faucet. 26. Discard the paper towel in the proper waste container. Reporting and Documentation 27. Putting on and removing gowns are accepted and established standard procedures. They do not need to be reported or documented. 19. Turn the gown inside out as it is being removed. 20. Hold the gown away from your scrubs with it turned inside out. 21. Roll the gown with the contaminated side facing in (Figure 4.30). Needlesticks and Other Sharps-Related Injuries Needles and other sharps (any objects that could puncture or cut the skin) are a hazard in the healthcare environment. Injuries related to needlesticks (any accidental punctures of the skin) or other sharp-related injuries can be both painful and dangerous. In the healthcare environment, all needles are considered sharps, including needles with syringes and attached tubing, or needles from vac- utainers (devices that enable phlebotomists to draw several blood tubes at one time). Sharps also include blades such as razors, scalpels, and lancets. sharps needles or any other objects that could puncture or cut the skin needlesticks any accidental punctures of the skin by needles can be dangerous in a healthcare setting because the puncture can cause a potentially serious infection