Safety is a serious issue for healthcare workers. They continuously contact infected people and components that can pose a significant risk to their health. Personal Protective Equipment or PPE is a set of disposable clothes that healthcare workers must wear to make a barrier between themselves and other people’s bodily fluids, respiratory secretions, and blood.
PPE is effective in preventing cross-contamination, due to which it is a necessary component in all healthcare facilities and care homes. At sites like https://www.safetyandmobility.com.au/, you can find a complete range of protective equipment. This article discusses why PPE is so vital for healthcare workers.
When is PPE Required in Healthcare?
As a general rule, the primary purpose of PPE is to control infections in healthcare settings. It works as a barrier between the wearer’s nose, eyes, mouth, skin, and contaminants. It can block the transmission of infectious materials from bodily fluids, respiratory secretions, and blood.
PPE is highly effective in protecting people who have a high risk of catching infections, like those suffering from a medical condition or immunodeficiency. Used as a disposable set of clothing, once used, it is removed and thrown out immediately. Usually, particular waste bins are used to dispose of these clothes, as the primary aim is to prevent exposure to contaminants and germs.
PPE is especially beneficial during the pandemic crisis, ensuring the wellbeing of Australian healthcare workers. For frontline staff who attend to patients and provide therapy, PPE is vital.
How Different Components of PPE Provide Protection?
You must have seen patients, staff members, and visitors using PPE in healthcare settings, especially while working with bodily fluids and blood. Here is how different components of PPE include the following:
Gloves
Gloves are meant to keep hands protected from germs and reduce their spread. Contracting germs on hands is the easiest way of catching and spreading infections unintentionally.
Mask
Masks are meant to cover the nose and mouth so that germs do not enter through these parts. There are several different types of masks meant for providing different levels of protection. These include:
Surgical Mask: These masks protect the wearer from germs and prevent the wearer’s germs from spreading from the nose and mouth area.
Respirator or Respiratory Mask: This mask creates a tight seal around the wearer’s mouth and nose. It prevents the wearer from inhaling small germs such as streptococcus pneumoniae that is responsible for causing pneumonia.
Some masks have a transparent plastic shield that also keeps the eyes covered.
Eye Protection
Eye protection is often provided in the form of goggles and face shields. Mucous membranes of the eyes are highly susceptible to receive body fluids and blood and allow them to enter the body. If fluids and contaminants come in contact with someone’s eyes, they may get infected through these membranes. So, it is essential to keep the eyes covered for healthcare workers.
Clothing
PPE clothing is meant to cover the wearer’s entire body to create an all-around barrier. These clothes include a head covering, apron, shoe covers, and gown. Healthcare workers often wear PPE clothes during surgery. They also wear such clothes while entering the room of an isolated or quarantined person who has an extremely infectious disease.
Special PPE
Some specialists use cytotoxic PPE while handling certain cancer drugs. PPE gown with elastic cuffs and long sleeves effectively stop liquids from touching the wearer’s skin. Special gloves, goggles, and shoe covers are also used for protection against certain conditions and contaminants.
The healthcare facility authorities specify which PPE type should be worn when and by whom. If you need to work in highly contaminated areas like hospitals and labs, then PPE equipment would be an integral part of your everyday routine.
Shift Frequency © 2021 – The Importance of PPE
Equipment for Healthcare Workers