The chances of contracting AIDS from occupational blood-splatter contact is remote, according to a study at San Francisco General Hospital (California). However, it is still necessary to exercise prudent caution. Police officers are reminded about how AIDS is transmitted, that no cases have been documented of a law officer contracting AIDS in the line of duty, that police have a higher degree of exposure to AIDS than the general public, and that reasonable precautions should be used (such as wearing disposable latex gloves when in contact with blood, using caution when handling drug paraphernalia, and decontaminating blood spills).