​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​How do I or a caregiver handle my body fluids and waste safely?

Body fluids and waste include:

• urine (pee)
• stool (poop)
• blood
• vomit (throw up)
• saliva (spit)
• sweat

During the precautionary period, some of the chemicals in the medicine may leave your body through your body fluids and waste. Contact with these fluids may harm other people or pets.

Try not to touch body fluids and waste. Caregivers should always wear gloves when handling your body fluids and waste.

​Everyone​ should wash their hands with soap and water before and after handling your body fluids and waste, even if they’re wearing gloves.

After handwashing, everyone should use their own towel or paper towel to dry their hands.

Toilets

If possible, use a different bathroom than other people in your home.

If you have to share a bathroom, use soap and water or a disinfecting wipe to clean the toilet seat, rim, lid, and handle when you’re done.

Sit on the toilet when you pee, so you don’t splash outside the toilet bowl. When you’re done, close the toilet lid and flush 2 times. Then wash your hands with soap and water.

If you can’t control your bladder or bowels or you wear diapers or pads

Use plastic-backed sheets or disposable plastic-backed pads on your mattress or furniture. Use them even if you wear a diaper or pad.

Change diapers or pads right away. Your skin should be cleaned with soap and water and dried well. Throw out all disposable items with the regular garbage (see Throwing out medicine, used supplies, and garbage).

To clean items like bedpans, urinals, or commodes, do the following:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water. Caregivers must also put on gloves.
2. Carefully em​pty the waste into the toilet, then close the lid and flush 2 times.
3. Wash the item with water and soap. Do this after each use and at least once per day.
4. After washing the item, pour the soap and water cleaning solution in the toilet. Then rinse the item with water and pour the rinse water in the toilet. Close the toilet lid and flush 2 times.
5. Dry the item with a paper towel.
6. Throw the paper towel and gloves into a double bag, and throw them out in the regular garbage (see Throwing out medicine, used supplies, and garbage).
7. Wash your hands with soap and water.

If you throw up

Try to throw up directly into the toilet. Close the toilet lid and flush 2 times, then wash your hands with soap and water.

If you throw up in a reusable bucket, do the following:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water. Caregivers must also put on gloves.
   
2. Empty the bucket directly into the toilet.
3. Wash the bucket with soap and water and pour the soap and water into the toilet.
4. Rinse the bucket and pour the water into the toilet.
5. Close the toilet lid and flush 2 times.
6. Dry the bucket with paper towel.
   
7. If you’re wearing gloves, take them off and place them in a double bag.
8. Throw out the bag in the regular garbage (see Throwing out medicine, used supplies, and garbage).
9. Wash your hands with soap and water.

If you throw up in a disposable container, do the following:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water. Caregivers must also put on gloves.
2. Empty the container directly into the toilet.
3. ​Rinse out the container with water and pour the water into the toilet.
4. Close the toilet lid and flush 2 times.
5. If you’re wearing gloves, take them off. Put the gloves and the disposable container in a double bag.
6. Throw the bag out in the regular garbage (see Throwing out medicine, used supplies, and garbage).
7. Wash your hands with soap and water.