Handcuffs - Can you catch infections?

Question

Hello,

Police in the UK arrest people and handcuff them. I have never been arrested myself, but can you catch infections from handcuffs?

Do police sterilise the handcuffs?

Because surely people can catch infections from them.

Thanks,
Ste.

Answer 1

are you michael jackson by any chance

do you go about touching nothing in case you may pick up an infection

me thinks you are neurotic/keep wearing the rubber gloves

Answer 2

Yes in fact you could catch an infection if you had an open cut or wound and there was blood or other body fluids on the handcuffs from a previous person wearing them. I don't know if the police are required to clean them after each use. It's a good question.

Answer 3

Its a very good point when I was in the police a number of people I saw handcuffed cut themselves struggling.Obviously if the cuffs were covered in blood you would wipe it off but no they were not sterilized but with the amount of blood transmitted deseases around nowadays it would be a good idea.I and other officers often grazed ourselves whilst handcuffing suspects as well so I suppose it should be a health and safety matter.

Answer 4

After each use we use alcohol wipes to wipe the cuffs, if blood is involved they are removed from service and cleaned professionally, i don't know about where you live what the protocol is, I would guess its similar, its common sense.
Best way to avoid getting infections from handcuffs is to stay out of trouble with the police?

Answer 5

If someone is placed in handcuffs and they try and escape they will normally break the skin. When arriving in custody a detainee's wrists are normally checked, any signs of damage means the handcuffs are replaced with a new pair

Answer 6

that's something I've never thought of, but it would depend on whether they have lesion's or not, but I've never heard of anyone getting an infection from anything like that, and i don't surprise the police would stop and think about it when they are cuffing them!.they'd probably only wash and sterilise them if they have blood on .

Answer 7

I would imagen if somone had a infection which could surrive being in open air then ift hey struggled enough to cut them selves they could pass a infection on. My advice is don't get arrested.

Answer 8

nah,I highly doubt it,you would have to have open cuts,sores,etc on your wrist and the cuffs would have to have very recent blood on them and both would have to come in contact,a HUGE IF. You would be more apt to catch something(virus)by touching the inside of the car and then itching your nose,or rubbing your eye's,etc. They say,your more likely to catch something from your own sink,then a public toilet,that toilets are much cleaner of disease than your sink is,,scary huh?

Answer 9

no! they don't sterilise the handcuffs.. because of that we all gonna be infected and die because of a very rare disease ...
let's be serious.. you're just to scared. !

Answer 10

I am almost scared to think what nornally goes through a mind like yours.