(4) A "sterile" team member turns away from the sterile field to have
perspiration mopped from his brow.
(5) The scrub drapes the part of an unsterile table nearest himself first.
(6) A "sterile" person should keep his hands in sight and at waist level or
above.
(7) A "sterile" person should keep his hands away from his face and his
elbows close to his sides. He should never fold his arms because his gown may be
moist with perspiration in the axillary (under arms) region; thus, his gloves would
become contaminated. When a "sterile" person stands on a footstool, the lower part of
his gown should not brush the sterile table. (Common sense determines sterile parts of
a gown worn by tall and short members in relation to their waists and the tops of sterile
tables.)
(8) "Sterile" team members should keep their contact with sterile areas to
a minimum.
(a) "Sterile" team members should not lean on the sterile tables or on
the draped patient.
(b) The scrub should keep the large instrument table (back table) and
the Mayo stand far enough away that the gowns of other "sterile" team members do not
brush them.
(9) "Sterile" team members keep well within the sterile area. The scrub
should allow a wide margin of safety when passing unsterile areas. He and all other
"sterile" team members should observe the following practices.
(a) "Sterile" team members should stand back at a safe distance from
the operating table while draping the patient.
(b) "Sterile" team members should pass each other back to back.
(c) A "sterile" team member should turn his back to an "unsterile"
person or area when passing.
(d) A "sterile" team member should face a sterile area when passing.
(e) "Sterile" team members should stay near the sterile table. They
should not wander about the room nor go out into the corridor.
(f) When used items or soiled sponges are placed into a basin and
maintained on the sterile field, the inside of the basin is contaminated. Handle such a
basin by the outside only.
MD0935
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