Initial care of the exposed person involves basic wound care. The first step in managing an exposure to a blood-borne pathogen is to clean the exposed area.8, 13 If it is a percutaneous exposure or a skin exposure, the area should be washed with soap and water. Small puncture wounds can be washed with an alcohol-based hand-wash; these are considered to be virucidal for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.8 Squeezing the wound to express blood is not recommended nor is the use of over-the-counter disinfectants such as bleach.8 Wash the eyes with saline or water and flush mucous membranes with water.