While hanging an IV chemo bag, the bag disconnects and spills; what is your first action?

• A. Restrict access to the spill area
• B. Obtain a chemo spill kit
• C. Document the spill
• D. Fill out an incident report

Answer: (A)

The first priority in a chemotherapy spill is to limit exposure by restricting access to the spill area. This protects others from potential contact with cytotoxic drugs and helps prevent the spill from spreading. After the area is secured, proceed to don the appropriate PPE and obtain a chemotherapy spill kit to contain and clean up the spill according to your facility’s protocol. Documentation and incident reporting are important steps, but they come after containment and cleanup are underway or completed to ensure safety and accurate record-keeping.