What Is A PPE?
Currently, due to the coronavirus pandemic, fear has taken hold of the population. We have become accustomed to seeing other people wearing a mask or gloves. There are even many who are making a PPE manually at home.
An PPE is personal protective equipment. It is, in fact, any device that a person uses in order to protect themselves from some risk to their health or safety, such as an infection.
However, there are different types of PPE depending on their specific purpose. In addition, they must meet a series of characteristics, and be correctly evaluated to be useful. In this article we explain everything you need to know about it.
What is a PPE?
An PPE, as we have mentioned, is a protection device for personal use. They are usually manufactured in solidarity to control a risk. So they come into play at this global moment, due to the current risk of infection from the pandemic.
However, PPE must be used as part of a specific protection program. The latter is important, since the danger, the manufacture of the product, and even the training of the people who are going to use it must be well evaluated.
This is because, for a device to be truly protective, it must be properly cared for and maintained. They are a basic element for any risk control strategy. Most of the people who use PPE are healthcare professionals.
What are they used for?
As they are different types of devices, their uses are also very diverse. First, a PPE can be used for less risk. Within this category we find, for example, helmets or goggles. They are used for small bumps or blows.
However, as we have pointed out, the most frequent PPE are for health use. These are often used to protect against infection. However, we must emphasize that there are also specific devices against radiation or contamination.
In the case of toilets, the most common is that the PPE consists of gloves and masks. It also usually includes specific protective clothing and eye protectors to completely cover the person.
PPE against coronavirus
Currently, the vast majority of PPE is being manufactured and used to protect healthcare personnel against coronavirus infection. It is a very important measure due to the high risk of transmissibility and contagion of SARS-CoV-2.
In addition, we must emphasize that for a PPE to be valid it must meet a series of characteristics. That is why health systems are saturated and short of material, since many centers were not prepared for a pandemic.
These teams are formed, first of all, by a mask. It allows healthcare personnel to be close to a person with symptoms, protecting the respiratory tract. Remember that contagion happens through droplets expelled through the nose and mouth.
There is also a set of sanitary gloves, which must be disposable. Along with this, it is advisable to wear an airtight uniform that protects from any possible splashing of fluids from the patient. The usual robe doesn’t seem to be enough.
It is also recommended that the PPE include eye protection. That is, it consists of glasses that stop the access of fluids directed to the eyes. They can be full-face glasses or full face shields.
To remind
We cannot forget that, for an individual protection equipment to work, it must meet certain characteristics. The ideal is to inform yourself correctly before using one, since they require knowledge for its use, such as knowing how to put it on and remove it without risk of contamination.
