scared of possible risk of transmission

[godsfollower]

Hi,

First I just want to thank this forum and the people here.

A few days back I went to visit a person who is HIV+. Now an incident happened which is worrying me a lot.

I had to use his bike a couple of times and for that I also borrowed his helmet. Now everytime I took the helmet off my head something scraped against my right ear, it hurt, and there was a burning sensation. This happened a couple of times.

I examined the helmet and saw that the fabric inside the hemet had become very stiff and was broken in places. Several edges from the stiff cushioing were projecting out. When I noticed my ear there were two cuts. The skin was broken and they hurt.

I am really worrying about this incident. The fabric inside the helmet was something similar to the material of which seats coverings are made(not leather, something similar) With use it becomes stiff and cracks and starts to come off. Pieces start projecting from it and can hurt you if you scrape against it.

Now anybody who used that helmet would have been hurt while taking off the helmet. 2-3 times I used the helmet just after he had used it. There was however a 5-10 minute gap between his taking off the helmet and mine using it. Can this be a means of transmission. Should I worry about the cuts on my ear and get tested?


Thanks a lot.

[LIZZIE LOU]

whatever ! ! !

there is NO way that this could be a risk to you...no way...no how.

[godsfollower]

Hi , Thanks again. I must confess that I went to one other forum besides this one. There I posted a Doctor question and got a reply that

The possibility that you were infected is very small. However, it can not be excluded completely. Just to be sure, you might want to do an HIV test 3 months after the possible exposure.

Now this has again got me worried and scared. I am not from USA and the place where I come, it is 'mentally' a very painful thing to get tested for HIV.
On top of this I have found myself to be very much worrying about HIV. I would really not like to get tested if this incident was not risky. I do not know what to do and how to put my mind at rest.

Thanks a lot,
godsfollower

[godsfollower]

teak and JeanClaude thanks much to you.

yes I was exactly worried that there might be blood left on the inside of the helmet. As the rough part that hurt me would definitely have hurt anyone else using the helmet. Also I am not sure about the 5-10 mins, it could have been lesser.

thanks,
regards,
godsfollower

[JeanClaude]

Even if there was blood on the inside of the helmet(very unlikely), it would be NO RISK for HIV. The helmet is considered an Environmental Surface. HIV is NOT transmitted via environmental surfaces. HIV can't survive  very long at all outside it's host.

-Regards-

[Teak]

You didn't have a risk and no you do not need testing.