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1/21/2009 7:01 PM
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#1
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 380
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RE: OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO HEPATITIS C
My first suggestion is to have all officers take occasional periodic tests to prove they do NOT have hepc (or any of the other similar diseases such as AIDS). This way, if they claim they were exposed at work and are later diagnosed, they have a proven startingg point to show it was work related.
I could be wrong, but one thing I have heard cities use to fight this is proving it was work related.
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1/28/2009 10:24 AM
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#2
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 7
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HEPATITIS C PROBLEM
I DO AGREE WITH THE TESTING AND THINK THE DEPARTMENTS SHOULD REQUIRE IT BY MANDATE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER INFO WE SIGN OF ON YEARLY. THE PROBLEM WITH DUTY RELATED HAZARDS IS THAT, THE NEED TO BE SPELLED OUT TO CLAIREFY WHAT IS IN PLACE TO HELP ALL FIRST RESPONDERS. IT GOES STATE BY STATE AND VERIES. I AM TRYING TO GET HELP FOR ALL OF US AND NEED SOME IDEA OF HOW TO PERSUE IT STARTING WITH GEORGIA. THEY ARE REALY BEHIND IN MY OPENION. I HAVE BEEN TO THE CAPITOL IIN ATLANTA AND SPENT THE DAY GOING DOOR TO DOOR AND SENT E-MAIL TO MOST ALL STATE REPRESENITIVES, ALSO PHYSICAL LETTERS TO THEM AT HOME AND IN THEIR OFFICES. MOST GAVE NO RESPONSE AND THE FEW THAT SEEMED CONSCERNED FOR A VERY SHORT TIME, LIP SERVICE. I HAVE CONTACTED FOP COP AND WASHINGTON DC. BUT AS WE ALL KNOW WHEN WE ARE HELP IT IS WHAT WE DO FOR OUR COMMUNITYS. BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE NEED HELP.
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2/23/2009 2:48 PM
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#3
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 77
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RE: OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO HEPATITIS C
My County requires ALL officers to get the HEP series. The county jail nurse gives the shots and the county pays for the Meds. We are also required to get yearly TB tests at the jail. This is provided free to the officers as well.
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3/2/2009 2:23 AM
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#4
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 7
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RE: OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO HEPATITIS C
HEPATITIS C 1A HAS NO SERIES OF SHOTS JUST TREATMENT AFTER THE ILLNESS STARTS.
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3/3/2009 7:13 PM
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#5
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1
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RE: OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO HEPATITIS C
Saw this thread of questions while doing some Hep C research. I'm an Army physician and write e-Journal articles with my Dad (retired PA State Trooper). I did one on bloodborne pathogens (HIV, HBV and HCV). Please check it out at (copy and paste the following link): http://www.hcfop39.org/ejournaliss2vol1.htm
I hope this is helpful. It is true there is no vaccine for Hep C (but there is for Hep B and it is required to be offered free of charge to employees with reasonable expectation of exposure to it). The important thing is to use personal protection (gloves, especially) when handling suspects, doing searches - any time you might be exposed to blood, body fluids, needles, etc. If you are exposed (blood splash to a mucous membrane or broken skin, sharp injury with a bloody needle, piece of glass/metal, etc.) you should seek medical attention to: 1) document you are negative for HIV/HBV/HCV at the time of injury, 2) receive appropriate first aid (though you should IMMEDIATELY wash the area after injury yourself) and counseling, and 3) have appropriate follow-up.
Documenting you are negative (for Hep C) immediately after the injury is important because there are people who already have Hep C virus who don't have any symptoms. Unless you document that you are negative initially, there could be difficulty proving that the on-the-job injury is what caused you to acquire the virus.
Anyhow, hope this has been helpful to someone. Check out the volume of the journal that I mentioned above and check out the other volumes as well. There's information on health, ballistics, testifying in court, etc. Thank you for what you all do!! Cut and paste this link into your browser and click on 'Badges on the Bayou' on the left side of the page: http://www.hcfop39.org/
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3/4/2009 6:25 PM
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#6
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 77
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Clarification
Thank you for the clarification. I was thinking about Hep B series. Thanks for all the info on Hep C!
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