Docfan Academy

PPE protects you from the blood and body fluids of patients, and protects patients from you. It is a barrier, not magic. Use it together with hand hygiene, never instead of it.

What each item is for

• Gloves: when you may touch blood, body fluids, broken skin or contaminated items. You do not need gloves for every touch.
• Medical mask: protects your nose and mouth from splashes and droplets. For diseases that spread through the air, use the type of mask or respirator your guidance requires.
• Gown or apron: protects your skin and clothes from splashes and soiling.
• Eye protection (goggles or a face shield): when splashes or sprays are likely, for example during suction or when handling certain specimens.

Putting on and taking off

The general idea is simple. Put on clean, take off dirty.

1. Clean your hands. Put on the gown, then the mask, then eye protection, then gloves.
2. When the task is finished, take off the dirtiest items first. This usually means gloves, then gown, then eye protection, then mask. Touch only the straps or the clean inside, not the front.
3. Put each item straight into the correct waste bin.
4. Clean your hands again as the last step.

Your facility has a chart for the exact order. Follow it.

Never reuse single-use PPE

• Single-use means once. Do not wash gloves, rub them with alcohol or keep them for the next patient.
• Change gloves between patients and between tasks on the same patient.
• Do not wear a mask under your chin or round your neck, and do not wear used PPE out of the work area.
• Do not touch your face, phone or door handles with gloved hands.