Universal precautions require treating all patients as potentially infectious.

• A. They apply only to blood exposure
• B. They require treating all patients as potentially infectious
• C. They are optional in EMS
• D. They are the same as standard precautions

Answer: (B)

Universal precautions mean you treat every patient as potentially infectious. This mindset drives you to use protective barriers and good hygiene with every encounter because infections can be transmitted through blood and other bodily fluids even when a patient shows no signs of illness. The practice standardizes actions like wearing gloves, eye protection or a mask when appropriate, performing hand hygiene before and after contact, safe handling of sharps, and proper cleaning and disinfection of surfaces. In EMS, these ideas live on as standard precautions, which broaden the scope to all body fluids and care activities, reinforcing that infection control isn’t optional and shouldn’t depend on perceived risk.