What is personal protective equipment (PPE)?

• PPE is clothing that we wear to protect us from the spread of infection or illness
• This guide will help you decide which PPE you should wear and when
• Types of PPE which will be covered include aprons, eyewear, face masks and gloves

Aprons and gowns

• Wear a white disposable plastic apron if you are carrying out a healthcare procedure:
• on a patient with a confirmed/suspected infection
• which could lead to contamination of your clothing with blood or bodily fluids (e.g., wound dressings)
• which requires aseptic technique
• Wear a full-body fluid repellent long-sleeved gown if there’s a chance that a lot of blood, bodily fluids or secretions could splash onto your skin or clothes (e.g., surgical procedures)
• Aprons and gowns should be in the clinical room, ready for each session. You can also find them in the stock room

Protective eyewear and face masks

• If there is a risk of blood, bodily fluids or chemicals splashing onto your face, or if a patient has a confirmed/suspected infection transmitted by droplet/airborne route (e.g., rubella, measles), wear a fluid-resistant (type IIR) surgical mask and protective eyewear

Infectious disease outbreaks

• For extra protection during an infectious disease outbreak, you can wear a surgical mask
• Surgical masks should:
1. cover your nose and mouth
2. not dangle around your neck after or between use
3. not be touched once put on
4. be regularly changed (especially when they get damaged or moist)
5. be disposed of in the appropriate clinical waste bag

Gloves

• All gloves that you wear in the practice must fit well, comply with European Standard EN 455 Medical Gloves for single use (Parts 1-4), and be CE marked for single use

Glove materials

We use sterile and non-sterile gloves in the practice. Both are available in different materials. The only three materials that are suitable in a clinical setting are natural rubber latex (NRL), nitrile/polychloroprene (latex-free) and vinyl (does not cause any skin irritation).

• Ideally, you should always wear latex-free gloves as staff and/or patients could have a latex allergy or sensitivity
• If a patient has been diagnosed with a latex sensitivity, it should be written in their medical notes on EMIS. They might also wear a Medic Alert bracelet

Footwear

Please make sure that your shoes are well-kept, clean, non-slip and cover your whole foot

Disposal of PPE

• Dispose of all PPE in a clinical waste bag after use, between patients and after each procedure (e.g., between ‘dirty’ and ‘clean’ tasks)
• Use the diagram below to help you decide what colour of clinical waste bag to use