The safest way to prevent exposure to bloodborne pathogens is to never ever come into contact with blood. Unfortunately, that isn’t always an option. At some point you may need to provide medical assistance to someone that is bleeding, or you may be asked to clean up blood spills. When these times come, your best bet for protecting yourself from bloodborne pathogens is using effective personal protective equipment – which is also regularly referred to as PPE.

Exculpatory agreements, commonly referred to as waivers or releases, are documents that protect businesses and individuals from claims arising from negligence. Businesses with unique liability exposures often find they cannot operate profitably without the protection afforded by these agreements.

Real Life Claims: A caregiver suffered a severely fractured wrist after rushing to the aid of a seizing, developmentally disabled teen wearing a bicycle helmet. As the women attempted to support the victim’s head, her wrist was slammed violently into the pavement.

In the News: In August 2005, 8-year-old Jacob Buckett, his father, and three-year-old sister went to lunch at a Burger King. In a matter of seconds, Jacob climbed up the horizontal support poles of the play structure and suddenly lost his grip.

In the News: A 20-year-old day care worker, previously charged with five felonies for molesting young girls in his care, now faces a new charge alleging that he sexually assaulted a 3-year-old girl at a different day care facility. He has pleaded not guilty to the other felony charges accusing him of touching children in his care at the YMCA last year.

Reality Alert: A 20-month-old child lost the tip of his finger after getting it caught in the hinge-side of a large metal door. Multiple employees were working at the child care center and all children were well supervised at the time of the incident.

When Sexting Becomes Deadly: An 18-year old girl committed suicide by hanging herself after a nude photo she sent her boyfriend spread around her school. After the young victim and her boyfriend broke up he sent the photo to some girls and the image quickly spread.