Infection prevention in first aid is essential for protecting both the person receiving treatment and the first aider providing assistance. Whether you are treating a minor cut, dealing with serious bleeding or performing CPR, understanding how to reduce the risk of infection is an important part of providing safe and effective first aid.

First aid often involves close contact with another person, and sometimes with blood, saliva or other bodily fluids. Without appropriate precautions, there is a risk of microorganisms spreading between individuals or through contaminated equipment and surfaces.

Fortunately, simple measures such as good hand hygiene, suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) and safe wound care can significantly reduce these risks.

In this guide, we explain the essential infection prevention practices every first aider should understand, including how to protect yourself during emergencies, manage contaminated materials and maintain safe workplace first aid arrangements.

Why Is Infection Prevention in First Aid Important?

Infection prevention in first aid helps reduce the risk of harmful microorganisms spreading during the assessment and treatment of an injured or unwell person.

Infections can be transmitted through several routes, including:

Direct contact: Touching infected blood, bodily fluids or contaminated skin.
Broken skin: Microorganisms entering through cuts, abrasions or open wounds.
Contaminated equipment: Reusing or touching equipment that has not been cleaned appropriately.
Poor hand hygiene: Transferring microorganisms from one person or surface to another.
Respiratory transmission: Exposure to infectious respiratory particles in certain circumstances.

Although the risk of infection varies depending on the situation, first aiders should take sensible precautions whenever they provide assistance.

However, infection prevention must always be balanced against the urgency of the emergency.

If someone is experiencing life-threatening bleeding or cardiac arrest, immediate life-saving treatment takes priority over routine infection control procedures.

The 6 Essential Infection Prevention Practices in First Aid

Effective infection prevention in first aid involves six important practices that can be applied in workplaces, schools, childcare settings and everyday emergencies.

1. Maintain Good Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of infection.

First aiders should clean their hands before and after providing treatment whenever practical.

Where facilities are available, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds.

Pay particular attention to:

Palms and backs of the hands.
Between the fingers.
Thumbs and fingertips.
Around the fingernails.
Wrists.

Alcohol-based hand sanitiser can be useful when soap and water are unavailable, provided hands are not visibly dirty.

If your hands become contaminated with blood or bodily fluids, wash them with soap and water as soon as possible.

The NHS provides practical guidance on effective handwashing.

2. Wear Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment, commonly known as PPE, helps reduce exposure to blood, bodily fluids and other potentially infectious materials.

The PPE required depends on the nature of the emergency and the risks involved.

Disposable gloves

Suitable single-use gloves, commonly nitrile examination gloves, should be worn when contact with blood, bodily fluids or broken skin is likely.

Examples include:

Treating cuts and bleeding injuries.
Applying dressings to open wounds.
Handling bloodstained materials.
Cleaning contaminated equipment.
Assisting someone where contact with bodily fluids is foreseeable.

Gloves should be changed between casualties and whenever contamination could spread between tasks.

Disposable gloves must never be washed and reused.

Face and eye protection

Where there is a foreseeable risk of blood or bodily fluids splashing towards the eyes, nose or mouth, additional protection may be appropriate.

Depending on the situation, this could include suitable eye protection, a face shield or a fluid-resistant mask.

CPR barrier devices

CPR face shields and pocket masks can help reduce direct contact when delivering rescue breaths.

First aiders should understand how to use these devices correctly and recognise that they do not eliminate every infection risk.

3. Prevent Cross-Infection During First Aid

Cross-infection occurs when harmful microorganisms are transferred between people, equipment or surfaces.

First aiders can reduce this risk by following straightforward precautions:

Cover any existing cuts or broken skin on their own hands.
Avoid touching their face while providing treatment.
Use clean or sterile dressings where appropriate.
Avoid touching the surface of a dressing that will contact a wound.
Change contaminated gloves between tasks.
Avoid sharing or reusing disposable first aid equipment.
Clean reusable equipment according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

These precautions are particularly important when treating multiple casualties or delivering first aid in a busy workplace.

4. Use Safe Wound Care Techniques

Open wounds can provide a route for microorganisms to enter the body.

Appropriate wound care helps reduce contamination and supports healing.

For minor cuts and grazes:

Clean your hands and wear suitable gloves where practical.
Control bleeding using gentle direct pressure.
Rinse the wound with clean running water.
Clean the surrounding skin where appropriate.
Cover the wound with a suitable sterile dressing or plaster.
Advise the casualty to monitor for signs of infection.

Avoid touching the part of a sterile dressing that will be placed directly against the wound.

Do not attempt to remove objects that are deeply embedded in a wound.

For serious or life-threatening bleeding, controlling the bleeding is the immediate priority. Apply firm direct pressure, call 999 when necessary and follow your first aid training.

Do not delay emergency bleeding control while searching for gloves or cleaning materials.

5. Dispose of Contaminated Materials Safely

Used first aid materials may become contaminated with blood or bodily fluids.

Examples include:

Bloodstained dressings.
Used disposable gloves.
Contaminated wipes.
Used CPR barrier devices.
Materials used during wound care.

These items should be handled carefully to prevent unnecessary exposure.

In workplaces, disposal arrangements should reflect the risks identified by the employer and any applicable waste management requirements.

Not every used plaster or glove automatically requires clinical waste disposal. However, materials presenting a significant infection risk may require specific arrangements.

First aiders should follow their organisation’s waste disposal procedures.

Where discarded needles or other sharps are involved, do not handle them unnecessarily or attempt to recap needles. Follow the relevant workplace sharps procedures.

6. Clean and Maintain First Aid Equipment

Clean, appropriately maintained equipment is an important part of infection prevention.

Workplace first aid kits and reusable equipment should be inspected regularly.

Checks should include:

Sterile dressings are sealed and within their expiry dates.
Disposable gloves are available and undamaged.
Packaging remains clean and intact.
Used supplies have been replaced.
Reusable equipment is cleaned appropriately.
First aid kits are stored in suitable conditions.

Cleaning and disinfection should follow the equipment manufacturer’s instructions and the workplace risk assessment.

For more information about suitable equipment, read our guide to workplace first aid kits and their contents.

Infection Prevention in First Aid During CPR

Infection prevention during CPR requires particular consideration because the first aider may be in close contact with the casualty’s face and airway.

However, when someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally, the priority is to recognise cardiac arrest and begin life-saving action.

Call 999, start chest compressions and arrange for an automated external defibrillator (AED) to be brought to the casualty as quickly as possible.

First aiders who are trained and willing to provide rescue breaths should follow their current training and relevant resuscitation guidance.

If you are unable or unwilling to provide rescue breaths, continuous chest compressions are preferable to doing nothing.

Reducing Infection Risks During CPR

Where practical:

Use a CPR face shield or pocket mask if one is immediately available and you know how to use it.
Wear disposable gloves if they are readily accessible.
Avoid unnecessary contact with blood or bodily fluids.
Clean your hands thoroughly after providing assistance.
Dispose of used barrier devices appropriately.

Never delay chest compressions while searching for protective equipment.

For further information, consult the Resuscitation Council UK’s resuscitation guidance.

You can also develop practical CPR and emergency response skills through our Emergency First Aid at Work course.

How to Prevent Infection When Treating Bleeding Injuries

Bleeding injuries present an increased possibility of direct contact with blood.

Where possible, first aiders should wear disposable gloves and use suitable dressings to reduce exposure.

For minor bleeding, apply appropriate pressure and cover the wound with a clean dressing.

For severe bleeding, act immediately to control blood loss.

Depending on the injury and the first aider’s training, additional bleeding-control techniques may be required.

Workplaces where serious bleeding injuries are foreseeable should consider whether additional training and equipment are necessary as part of their first aid needs assessment.

This is particularly relevant in environments involving machinery, sharp tools or other significant injury hazards.

Infection prevention remains important, but life-threatening bleeding must be controlled without unnecessary delay.

What Should You Do After Contact with Blood or Bodily Fluids?

Accidental exposure can occur even when appropriate precautions are followed.

Examples include:

A needlestick or other sharps injury.
Blood entering the eyes, nose or mouth.
Blood contacting broken skin.
A human bite that breaks the skin.

These incidents require appropriate action because some infections can be transmitted through blood exposure.

Immediate Steps Following Exposure

Stop the activity when it is safe to do so.
Wash affected skin thoroughly with soap and running water.
For a needlestick injury, encourage the wound to bleed gently under running water. Do not suck or scrub it.
If blood or bodily fluids enter the eyes, rinse thoroughly with water or sterile saline.
Report the incident through the appropriate workplace procedure.
Seek prompt medical advice to assess whether further investigation or preventive treatment is required.

Some preventive treatments are time-sensitive, so potentially significant exposures should be assessed urgently.

Employers should investigate incidents and follow applicable accident reporting requirements.

Recognising Signs of Infection After First Aid

Even when a wound is treated appropriately, infection can sometimes develop.

Common warning signs include:

Increasing redness around the wound.
Swelling or warmth.
Pain that becomes worse rather than improving.
Pus or unusual discharge.
Fever or feeling generally unwell.

Anyone developing signs of wound infection should seek medical advice.

Rapidly spreading redness, severe pain or signs of serious illness require urgent assessment.

First aiders should recognise potential warning signs and advise the casualty to obtain appropriate medical assistance rather than attempting to diagnose an infection themselves.

Infection Prevention in First Aid at Work

Infection prevention in first aid is an important consideration for employers and designated workplace first aiders.

Under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, employers must provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities and personnel.

The arrangements required depend on the employer’s first aid needs assessment.

Where employees may encounter blood or bodily fluids, the assessment should consider:

Suitable disposable gloves and other PPE.
Access to handwashing facilities.
Safe cleaning and disinfection procedures.
Appropriate disposal of contaminated materials.
Training in safe first aid practices.
Procedures for reporting accidental exposure.

Depending on the nature of the risks, additional requirements may arise under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH).

The Health and Safety Executive provides official guidance on first aid at work.

Why Workplace First Aid Training Matters

First aid training helps employees develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to respond safely during emergencies.

It also helps first aiders understand how to protect themselves while providing appropriate assistance.

At First Aid and Safety Training, we deliver practical workplace first aid courses that include safe first aid practices and precautions against infection.

Our courses are designed to help learners develop the confidence to respond effectively when someone needs assistance.

Is Infection Prevention Covered in EFAW and FAW Courses?

Yes. Infection prevention is an important aspect of workplace first aid training.

Both Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) and First Aid at Work (FAW) qualifications include the principles of providing first aid safely.

Learners develop an understanding of the precautions required when assessing casualties, managing injuries and providing emergency assistance.

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)

Our Emergency First Aid at Work course provides essential first aid knowledge and practical skills for designated workplace first aiders.

The one-day course includes managing emergencies, CPR, AED use, choking, bleeding and other important first aid situations.

First Aid at Work (FAW)

Our First Aid at Work course provides more extensive first aid training for workplaces requiring a broader level of first aid provision.

The course develops practical skills across a wider range of injuries and medical emergencies.

Paediatric First Aid

Infection prevention is also important when providing first aid to babies and children.

Our Paediatric First Aid course covers essential first aid skills for childcare professionals and others responsible for children’s safety.

All three courses are available through First Aid and Safety Training, a Qualsafe Awards Approved Training Centre delivering regulated qualifications awarded by Qualsafe Awards, an Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Infection Prevention in First Aid

What Is Infection Prevention in First Aid?

Infection prevention in first aid involves taking appropriate precautions to reduce the spread of harmful microorganisms while providing emergency assistance.

This includes hand hygiene, PPE, safe wound care, cleaning equipment and disposing of contaminated materials correctly.

What Are the Main Infection Prevention Precautions?

The main precautions include washing hands, wearing appropriate disposable gloves, preventing cross-contamination, using clean dressings, disposing of contaminated materials safely and maintaining first aid equipment.

Should First Aiders Always Wear Disposable Gloves?

Disposable gloves should be worn when there is a foreseeable risk of contact with blood, bodily fluids or broken skin.

They may not be necessary for every first aid activity.

Can You Provide First Aid Without Gloves?

Yes. If someone needs immediate life-saving assistance and gloves are not available, treatment should not be unnecessarily delayed.

Avoid direct contact with blood where practical and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

Does Hand Sanitiser Replace Handwashing?

No. Alcohol-based hand sanitiser can be useful when soap and water are unavailable, but handwashing remains important, particularly when hands are visibly dirty or contaminated.

Can Infection Be Transmitted During CPR?

There is a potential risk of infection during close contact, particularly when providing rescue breaths.

Appropriate CPR barrier equipment may reduce certain risks, but it should not delay essential life-saving treatment.

Infection Prevention in First Aid Essential Safety Practices

Is Infection Prevention Included in First Aid Training?

Yes. Safe first aid practices, including precautions against infection, form part of recognised workplace first aid training.

These principles are covered in EFAW, FAW and Paediatric First Aid courses.

Learn Safe First Aid Practices with First Aid and Safety Training

Understanding infection prevention in first aid helps you provide assistance safely, reduce avoidable risks and respond with greater confidence.

From hand hygiene and PPE to safe wound care and CPR, these practical precautions are an important part of effective first aid.

At First Aid and Safety Training, we provide practical, regulated first aid qualifications for individuals, businesses and organisations across the North East.

Whether you need to train a new workplace first aider, renew an existing qualification or arrange training for your team, we can help you choose a suitable course.

Real Skills, Real Confidence.

Contact First Aid and Safety Training to discuss your training requirements or arrange your next first aid course.