Which statement about placenta handling in EMS is correct?

• A. Keep placenta with patient for transport
• B. Dispose placenta in regular trash
• C. Bury placenta at the scene
• D. Hand placenta to hospital staff in a biohazard bag

Answer: (D)

Handling potential infectious waste is a key safety principle in EMS. A placenta, with maternal blood and fluids, is treated as biohazard material that must be contained and transferred rather than left at the scene or disposed of improperly. The safest and most appropriate action is to place the placenta in a biohazard bag and hand it to hospital staff for disposal during or after transport. This protects the crew and the environment and aligns with hospital waste procedures. Options like keeping it with the patient for transport, disposing of it in regular trash, or burying it at the scene pose contamination risks or violate waste-handling rules, so they aren’t appropriate.