COVID-19 and PPE: Proper Use & Handling
posted by Law | April 24, 2020 | In NewsThe donning of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has now been widely accepted as a coronavirus preventative measure. However, just carelessly slapping on a mask and gloves won’t cut it. It is necessary to understand proper use, handling, and limitations. When a person can’t perform social distancing, a homemade mask or face covering should be worn.
Which PPE should I wear?
According to manufacturing company 3M, if you are a health care professional and /or a patient in a health care setting, a surgical mask should be worn. Traditionally, this is applicable for single use during routine health procedures. A surgical mask does not provide the same level of protection as the N95 respirator, which should be worn by those treating COVID-19 patients.
Will a homemade mask protect me from contracting COVID-19?
The logistics say no. Recently Southwestern Public Health tweeted: “Non-medical masks can be used to protect those around you from you.”
Agreeing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who endorsed the use of homemade masks, referred to the masks as a means of “slowing the spread of the virus and helping people who may have the virus, and do not know it, from transmitting it to others.”
Cloth face coverings should:
- Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
- Be secured with ties or ear loops
- Include multiple layers of fabric
- Allow for breathing without restriction
- Be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape
Handling PPE (Southwestern Public Health):
- Wash hands before and after applying/removing mask
- Check sizing, ensure mouth and nose are covered
- Put mask directly into the washing machine on a hot cycle
- DO NOT share masks or face coverings with others.
- DO NOT touch your face or mask while using it.
- DO NOT leave used masks in shopping carts or on the ground.
Consider this. These are unconventional times and orthodox trainings and methodologies may not apply here. Any level of protection is better than no protection, right?
Regular use of “disposable filtering facepiece respirators (FFR), such as N95, are not approved for routine decontamination as a standard of care,” according to the CDC. However, with more and more general use, the need to reuse single use PPE becomes a necessity. The CDC has provided new guidelines.
“As of April 2020, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, vaporous hydrogen peroxide, and moist heat have shown the most promise as potential methods to decontaminate FFRs.”
Recently, Forbes published the following:
“With a good UV light sanitizing device, you can clean surfaces like desktops and door handles, sinks and toilets, or those items that are always with you, like your phone.”
Don’t have a UV sanitizing device? This is a good time to add one to your online shopping cart, while you continue to practice social distancing. The prescribed six-foot buffer between you and another person is a minimum. Don’t be afraid to extend your personal space while respecting others. Remember, the best way to prevent further spread is to stay at home.
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