Ever since the COVID-19 global pandemic broke out, there are many devices that came into light to keep people safe and protected from the COVID-19 virus. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits have gained a lot of popularity and importance. Let’s learn more about PPE Kit:
What is a PPE Kit?
Personal Protective Equipment or the PPE kit is a crucial protective element safeguard ourselves from infections or viruses that can be transmitted. Medical professionals use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). It not only protects healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, etc. but also helps contain the spread of the deadly disease.
Importance of PPE kit in COVID-19 protection
PPE Kit is playing a very vital role in the fight against this pandemic. It is contributing to minimizing the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 virus from one person to another. There are possibilities that our surroundings may be infected from the virus, a PPE kit protects our body parts from getting exposed to the contaminated surrounding.
Its full-proof design provides complete protection and avoid any infection to pass to or from the body. Consisting of elements including coverall, face shield, gloves, goggles, headcover, mask, and footwear, it ensures complete safety from head to toe. Each part of the protective gear is specifically designed to cover and safeguard a body part.
What does a PPE consist of?
A PPE Kit has 7 different protective elements as follows:
PPE Coverall:
A PPE Coverall provides full coverage to the body. It is recommended as a part of contact precautions and is considerably easier to put on and take off. It is waterproof and protects the body from splashes of any fluids.
PPE Face Shield:
A PPE face shield is most important in preventing transmission of the virus. It creates a barrier and reduces the chance of being exposed and spreading germs.
It’s made of plastic thus providing good visibility. It covers the size and length of the face
PPE Gloves:
PPE Gloves avoid exposure to the skin from chemicals, infectious bacteria, and viruses. Gloves protect the patients as well as the caregiver from spreading germ from the open skin. During this COVID-19 pandemic, it safeguards the health and well being of the health workers in the workplace, ensuring hand hygiene.
Remember to clean the gloves regularly after the use and replace them if they tear.
PPE Goggles
The virus is most likely to enter through the mouth or nose, but they can also enter through eyes thus needing protection. Eye protection includes PPE Goggles, which protects the mucous membranes in the eyes from blood and virus droplets. If the mucous from an infected person makes contact with the eyes, germs in the fluid can enter into the body through the mucous membrane.
A PPE Goggle covers the eye from splashes and other bodily fluids. Don’t forget to disinfect the goggles with an alcohol-based sanitizer.
PPE Headcover
Headcovers protect the spread of germs through droplet or contact routes. Potentially infectious materials can travel to the head as well as from the head. Germ transmission to the mucosae of the eyes, nose, or mouth is reduced when the hair is tucked inside the head covering.
Headcovers are single-use and should be fluid-resistance. Make sure to adjust them properly to ensure that they don’t slip.
PPE Mask:
Facemask helps infections from being spread by and to the person wearing them and protects against large droplets and splashes emitted during coughing sneezing or touching the face. There are 3 types of masks- surgical mask, N-95 mask, and home made cloth mask.
For more detailed information about the role of face masks during COVID-19 pandemic, read our blog.
PPE Footwear:
The same pair of boots can be worn throughout the working day or night, provided that they have been cleaned and disinfected properly.
PPE boots should be knee-high – higher than the bottom edge of the gown. They should be non-slippery with a completely sealed PVC sole.