HIV? No Right To Know

State protects privacy of all.

Don't assume that you will know if any of your students have the HIV virus. You probably won't.

Delaware law protects the confidentiality of anyone who tests positive for the HIV virus. In other words, a parent or guardian has the right to decide if their child's HIV status will or will not be disclosed.

Since you may not know if a child is infected with HIV, DSEA strongly urges you to practice "universal precautions" whenever the skin is broken, or when handling blood, with all children. These are steps recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to be taken to reduce risks of infection. See below.

Delaware's health policy strong on student education

Since 1987 Delaware has been serious about HIV education. In 1990 the State Board of Education passed a new "K-12 Comprehensive Health Education and Family Life Education Policy." The purpose is "to provide a program that establishes a foundation for understanding the relationships between personal behavior and health."

Another State Board policy requires districts to educate their staff in "HIV infection, mode of transmission, care of body fluids and good hand washing techniques."

If you find that your district is not providing staff training, we urge you to contact your school nurse or district health education coordinator.

If you're interested in more information about how to integrate health education and family life curriculum into your classes, contact Janet Arns, state health specialist and HIV coordinator at the Department of Public Instruction in Dover at 739-4885.

	Universal Precautions
Get in the habit of washing your hands with soap and running water at regular times during your work-day. Common infectious diseases (excluding HIV infection and hepatitis B) may be contracted from dirt and waste encountered in the workplace. Avoid punctures with objects that may contain the blood of other persons. Handle blood and other body fluids that may contain blood with gloves and wash hands thoroughly with soap and running water when you are finished.	Carefully dispose of trash that contains body wastes and sharp objects. Use special containers with plastic liners for disposal of refuse that contains blood and any body spills that may contain blood. For disposal of sharp objects, use containers that cannot be broken or penetrated. Do not bend, break or recap needles. Promptly remove all other person's blood and body wastes from your skin by washing with soap and running water.	Clean surfaces that have blood or body wastes containing blood on them with an EPA-approved disinfectant or a 1:10 solution of household bleach and water. The solution should be fresh daily to ensure proper strength. And... Know your school district's policy regarding proper disposal of waste that is contaminated with body discharges. Insist that all bathrooms in schools have soap, paper towels and waste receptacles.