PPE

• Examples of PPE in health and social care settings:

  • Disposable aprons
  • Disposable gloves
  • Rubber gloves
  • Face masks
  • Hairnets or hygiene hats
  • Overalls

  Overshoes

  Surgical garments/ scrubs
• PPE refers to the equipment that is worn by service

  providers to protect against the spread of infections. It

  can prevent the spread of infections because:

  it protects service users from infections that service providers may be carrying

  it protects service providers from infections service users may be carrying

  it creates a barrier between the infection and the service provider to prevent it spreading to others or vice versa, or to/from a surface or piece of equipment.
• Using PPE correctly

  • only using the correct PPE for the work tasks being carried out
  • following the manufacturer’s instructions
  • washing your hands before using PPE
  • washing your hands after disposing of PPE.
• Disposable aprons

  provide a barrier for the infections that can be spread through

  service providers’ clothing/uniform to ensure a high level of cleanliness

  They are used for, for example:

  • carrying out a task that involves coming into contact with bodily fluids, such as supporting a service user to have a shower
  • handling and preparing cooked/raw food.
• Disposable gloves

  provide a barrier for the infections that can be spread through service providers’ hands. They also prevent a transfer of bacteria to and from wounds.

  They are used for, for example:

  • carrying out a task that involves coming into
  • contact with a service user’s bodily fluids, such as disposing of waste or handling soiled linen
  • dealing with an accident that involves coming into contact with an open wound or a service user’s bodily fluids such as blood or vomit
• Rubber gloves

  provide a barrier for the infections that can be spread through

  service providers’ hands. They also remove places for bacteria to become trapped eg rings are covered. They fit tightly and are

  much stronger than disposable gloves.

  They are used for medical procedures such as:

  • carrying out a surgical operation
  • obtaining a blood sample
• Face masks

  provide a barrier for the infections that can be spread by service providers on to service users and others. They prevent aerosol transfer of particles in the air .

  They fit over the nose and mouth to prevent service providers spreading infections through respiratory droplets or their hands after touching their mouth.

  They are used for tasks where they are in close contact with

  service users, for example:

  • carrying out a personal care task
  • supporting a service user with eating and drinking.
• Hairnets or hygiene hats

  provide a barrier for the infections that can be spread by service providers’ hair on to service users and others in care settings.

  This will help prevent cross contamination.

  For example:

  • when preparing food and drink
  • when handling food and drink
  • when cooking food
  • when serving food and drink.
• Overalls

  are worn over clothing and protect the whole body by providing a barrier for the infections that can be spread by service providers’ clothing on to service users and others in care settings. This provides a high level of cleanliness

  For example:

  • when carrying out a surgical procedure to protect against splashes of body fluids such as blood
  • when carrying out a cleaning task that may involve coming into contact with high levels of dust and/or a service user’s bodily fluids.
• Overshoes

  are worn over shoes and provide a barrier for the infections that can be spread by service providers’ shoes, thus keeping the area clean and sterile. This reduces the opportunities of spreading bacteria/germs

  For example:

  • when carrying out a surgical procedure
  • when carrying out a task that may involve coming into contact with a service user who has an infection.
• Surgical garments/scrubs

  are worn by service providers such as nurses and surgeons to provide a barrier for the infections that can be spread by them to

  service users and others.

  For example:

  • when providing care/treatment to a service user in hospital
  • when carrying out a surgical procedure.