Types of personal protective equipment

When assisting with client care, personal protective equipment, or PPE for short, should be used to avoid transmission of infection to and from the client.

This includes wearing non-sterile gloves, a gown, a mask, goggles, or a face shield as needed. The PPE needed depends on the type of the procedure, the client, and the risk for exposure to body fluids. Okay, let’s take a closer look at the components of PPE, starting with non-sterile gloves.

These should be used every time there is a risk for exposure to blood, all types of body fluids, secretions, and excretions, as well as open skin lesions or rashes; mucosal surfaces, such as when providing perineal care; and possibly contaminated items, such as soiled clothing and linens or contaminated surfaces.

Now, when wearing non-sterile gloves, there are some general considerations for you to follow. First of all, the gloves must be intact without any holes, so make sure you don’t tear them when putting them on.

Long and rough fingernails or rings can also tear the gloves. Also, be sure that they fit properly, meaning that they’re not too loose or too tight, and cover your wrists.

In case you or the client is sensitive to latex, use gloves that are from a different material, such as vinyl. It is also important to use a different pair of gloves for every client and for every procedure.

Also, when caring for a client, change gloves when moving from a contaminated site of their body, such as the perineum, to a site that’s cleaner.

Also, remove contaminated gloves when you need to touch a commonly used item or surface, such as a light switch, door handle, or faucet.

Always consider the outside of the gloves as contaminated and the inside as clean. Now, when removing the gloves, turn the inside out and dispose of them safely.

Afterwards, don’t forget to wash your hands before putting on gloves and after removing them. Moving onto waterproof gowns. These usually open at the back and will cover you from the neck to the knees.

The sleeves should cover the entire arm and have cuffs that are tight. Gowns should be used if there’s a possibility that your clothes will get contaminated with blood, all types of body fluids, secretions, and excretions.

They are also used for procedures where splashes of body fluids are likely. When using a gown, consider the arms and front of the gown contaminated.

Okay, now when wearing a gown, there are some important tips. First of all, each gown should be used only once, so remember to change the gown between clients.

If you’re wearing a non-waterproof gown and it becomes wet, consider it contaminated; dispose of it safely and change to a dry one. PPE also includes wearing a mask that covers the nose and the mouth.

A mask can protect you from inhaling microbes through the nose or mouth as well as protect the clients from the microbes that you exhale.

So, wear a mask when there’s a possibility of transmission of airborne pathogens to and from the client.

Airborne pathogens can survive and travel through the air over long distances and for an extended period of time: usually several hours to days.