How to safely put on personal protective equipment, more commonly called PPE.
We will demonstrate one way to appropriately put on, or don, PPE.
More than one donning method may be acceptable to your facility.
It's important that you receive training, demonstrate competency,
and practice your healthcare facility's donning procedure.
First, identify and gather the proper PPE to don,
including: an appropriately fitted isolation gown,
a NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator or higher-level respiratory protection,
or if a respirator is not available, a facemask,
a face shield or goggles,
and a pair of disposable patient examination gloves.
Perform hand hygiene by using alcohol-based hand sanitizer or washing
your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Put on the isolation gown.
Tie all ties or snap all snaps. You may need assistance from another healthcare provider.
Put on the N95 respirator. When using a respirator with a nosepiece, fit it to your nose using both
hands. Do not bend or tent the respirator. Extend the respirator under your chin, protecting
both your mouth and nose. Pull the top strap over your head, placing it on the crown, then
pull the bottom strap over your head, placing it at the base of your neck.
Lastly, perform a user seal check.
Do this by using your hands to cover the surface of the respirator and
gently exhale, checking that the facepiece bulges slightly. Then, while keeping your hands
over the respirator, take in a quick, deep breath, checking that the facepiece collapses slightly.
If air escapes through the edges, readjust the fit of your respirator and perform
another user seal check. Do this each time you put the respirator on.
If a respirator is not available, put on a facemask.
Extend the facemask under your chin, protecting both
your mouth and nose. If the mask has loops, hook them around your ears.
If it has ties, secure them at the base of your neck and crown of your head.
Next, put on a face shield or goggles.
Lastly, put on your gloves.
Pull the gloves down so that they cover the wrist of the gown.
You are now ready to enter the patient's room.