6 Essential PPE Items Every Hospital Should Provide to Staff

6 Essential PPE Items Every Hospital Should Provide to Staff

A hospital is never without personal protective equipment (PPE), and it’s imperative that adequate PPE be made available for the hospital’s staff members. Having the proper PPE will protect both the safety of patients and staff members and help prevent germs from spreading throughout the hospital. 

1- Face Mask

Face masks provide the highest level of protection against respiratory pathogens such as COVID-19. It would be best if you choose the right mask. It should provide good breath protection, but at the same time, it also allows for you to breathe easily. Masks can be purchased commercially.

2 -Gowns and Aprons

Gowns and aprons are protective clothing used by healthcare staff when in close proximity to patients. Basically, this item covers your dressings and attire so that it doesn’t come in contact with germs from the patient and so that the patient isn’t exposed to anything you bring into the room. Additionally, healthcare staff use gowns as protection against bio-hazardous material like chemotherapy.

3 – Gloves

In addition to keeping the inside of their clothing free from contamination, healthcare workers must be mindful of how they touch things around them. Their primary concern should be avoiding the transfer of germs through direct contact. All surfaces, even those which appear sterile, need to be touched only by gloved hands. Gloves need to be changed often so it’s important to have plenty of disposable gloves available to your healthcare workers.

4- Eye Protection

Eye protection should be worn whenever healthcare workers work near blood or work with patients who are immuno-compromised or have a contagious illness. Many healthcare workers use goggles or even face shields as eye protection. When selecting goggles, ensure they fit tightly around the head, so air cannot circulate between the sides and back of the goggles.

5 – Shoe Covers

Healthcare workers often come in direct contact with bodily fluids and waste products containing infectious materials. Healthcare facilities should therefore provide shoe covers for employees. Shoes should be cleaned regularly and kept covered. Since healthcare workers need to remove shoe covers after leaving a patient’s room, it’s important to have plenty of shoe covers available to staff.

6 – Alcohol-Based Antiseptic

After using the bathroom or when entering or leaving a patient room, apply alcohol-based antiseptic like 70% Isopropyl alcohol onto hands; rub hands together vigorously until the entire surface has been coated; then lather thoroughly for about 30 seconds; rinse well under running water for 20 seconds; dry thoroughly. Apply 2nd layer of alcohol before patient contact. The CDC recommends healthcare workers use hand sanitizing products containing at least 60% alcohol. When regular soap and water isn’t available or a healthcare worker is in a time crunch, it’s best to have hand sanitizer available for usage.

Healthcare workers should access several personal protective equipment (PPE) items during their daily activities. Many hospitals require staff members to wear specific amounts of PPE depending on the procedures performed while maintaining proper infection control measures.