After which type of incident should you consult the department's infection control policy for your gear?

Consulting the department's infection control policy is particularly important after incidents involving blood or bodily fluid exposures. These situations pose a significant risk for transmission of infectious diseases, requiring specific protocols to ensure the safety of personnel and the proper decontamination of gear. The infection control policy provides guidelines on how to handle contaminated equipment, what protective measures must be taken, and how to preserve health and safety standards in the face of potential biological hazards. This is crucial for preventing cross-contamination and protecting both the responders and the public they serve.

In contrast, the other types of incidents, while they have their own hazards, do not typically necessitate the same level of concern regarding infectious disease transmission that incidents involving blood or bodily fluids do. For instance, electrical incidents focus primarily on electrical safety and shock prevention, environmental spills deal with hazardous materials and their cleanup, and fire incidents primarily involve heat and smoke hazards rather than biological risks.