First aid after scooter accident, blood on hands

[Loisy1]

Hello.

I would like your help to relieve me from the panic that i have lately since I came in aid to a person in a scooter accident.

I live in Europe and a couple of days ago i witnessed a motorbike (scooter, 50cc small bike) accident in my town.

The accident was at night, wet roads.. The person did not collide with any car but had a slippery drop, severely cutting his leg with his own bike (no idea how, probably with some metalic particle of his own bike when falling and grinding on floor). It was the kind of cut that bleeds non stop, pretty open.

I ran over, got the person straight and tied my belt around his leg strongly to prevent too much bleeding and exerted some pressure on wound to reduce bleeding, which worked fairly well.. Got the person in the right position and kept him talking.

Emergency came relatively fast...

I'll pass on the details.. Here is what struck me after he was taken to ER:

1) I got a lot of blood on my hands.. It was very fresh and immediately from the wound (so little air contact)

2) I had little cuts on my hands (due to winter and cold weather) on my fingers afterwards.. The kind of cuts that open and u can see some red flesh, slight bleeding, mostly on my knuckles, and where the fingers bend (top part). Probably fairly superficial, mot cuts about 3-5mm long and 1mm wide. No idea bout depth but surely not deep.

Now I know that HIV dies pretty fast when in contact with air.. But the problem is that the blood was immediately coming freshly onto my hands straight from the wound and my cuts were pretty recent (probably same day), still red, but no longer bleeding.

I got no blood in my eyes or anything like that.

I know i helped this guy but here we dont get news about him after the emergency comes to take him so I have no idea about his hiv status or any other infections (i know it is unlikely but still...)

So please, what are your thoughts? Am I at risk with my cuts receiving fresh blood straight from the wound?

Many thanks for your help

[RubyWitch]

You are getting it right. You stated your "cuts" were superficial, and if they were caused by your hands being cold and chapped, they would be more like very minor cracks than actual cuts. Please reread my definition of the type of "wound" that may have presented some risk to you.
I stand by my assessment that your risk during this encounter was zero.
RW

[Loisy1]

RubyWitch, many thanks.
It is great that you guys offer your time to help remove people's concerns here regarding potentiel infections.

I feel much better now  :)

Wishing you all.

[Loisy1]

RubyWitch, thank you for your answer. I must admit I am fairly surprised as I imagined there would be at least a little risk from this..
No risk at all sounds fantastic, yet confusing because i always imagined that HIV was easily transmittable via blood. But I think i get the point: Small cuts are not deep enough for it to get into your blood i presume? Am I getting it right?

Many thanks.

[AnxiousNoMore]

Athletes collide at high speed and cut themselves but never get HIV, so take advice from Ruby and get back to your happy life.

[Loisy1]

OK. Thanks :)

[RubyWitch]

You had no risk.  
YOUR cuts would have to have been very large, deep,  profusely bleeding gaping WOUNDS, the type of wound that would require emergency sutures for there to have been ANY risk to you.
Be proud of yourself for stopping to help this person as many people would not.
My assessment of your risk is zero.
RW