Right now, it’s safe to say that the world as we know it today is in turmoil.
We find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic, the likes of which we’ve never seen before, and with any luck, the likes of which we will never see again.
Back in December 2019, word began to spread of a mystery illness originating in China, that had many healthcare professionals and experts behind the scenes very worried. The main issue they had with it was the fact that it was new, and subsequently there was no cure, no real treatment, and no guarantees that it wouldn’t mutate and become even more deadly.
Over the next few months, the highly infectious virus, which was a member of the Coronavirus family, became officially known as Covid-19, and it swept through China, forcing the country into lockdown, before reaching other countries and having the same effect.
Whereas many of us find ourselves hunkered down at home, key workers such as home care providers, care workers, and doctors and nurses, literally risk their lives every day. The only thing helping to offer them a certain degree of protection is what is known as PPE, which is what we’re looking at today.
Before we can take a look at some of the most important pieces of PPE used by care workers such as those at Virtus care, and all over the world for that matter, we first need to talk about what PPE actually is.
PPE stands for Personal Protection Equipment, and it is what is being worn and utilized by home care workers and those who come into direct contact with Covid-19 patients, or those who are at a greater risk of infection.
PPE is only issued when risk assessments have shown it to be a necessity. Furthermore, it’s vital to know what it is and how it is utilized, as misuse of PPE could endanger lives and increase the risk of infection.
PPE is provided to home care workers and virtus care employees, though it’s important to understand what it is, why it’s important, and how it is used.
Essential pieces of PPE equipment for care workers
In this next section, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the most important pieces of PPE equipment for home care professionals and those in the medical field.
Important PPE includes, but is not limited to the following:
Experts have found that the virus can survive for longer on plastics rather than on materials that are used to create ordinary clothes, which is why London care workers and healthcare workers in general are required to wear disposable gowns and aprons.
The idea behind this is that the gowns and aprons are removed and hygienically disposed of at the end of the care worker’s shift.
Long-sleeved gowns or disposable fluid-repelling coveralls are needed when disposable plastic aprons provide inadequate coverage for the care worker.
They must also be worn when there is an increased risk of bodily fluids being splashed onto them, which in the home care sector, is very common.
Disposable gloves should also be worn by the care workers when they are providing direct patient care, as well as when there is an increased likelihood of them coming into direct contact with bodily fluids and secretions.
These gloves are subject purely to single use, and simply must be disposed of upon completion of the task or procedure at hand.
The hands should also thoroughly be washed immediately after the gloves have been removed and disposed of.
The Covid-19 virus is spread via droplets, which basically means that it is present in droplets, such as saliva, and can enter the body via the nose, eyes, and mouth.
Fluid resistant surgical masks have been found to provide protection against respiratory droplets reaching the nose and the mouth.
These masks must be well-fitting in order to provide maximum levels of protection.
Fluid resistant surgical masks, or FRSMs for short, are designed to be disposable, so they are single use only. This basically means that once the care workers have completed the procedure in question, the mask should be discarded, hands must be washed, and the mask should then be replaced.
Masks must be well-fitting to cover both the mouth and the nose. They should never dangle freely around the neck, they must NOT be touched once they have been put on, they must be replaced if they are damaged or become damp, and they must be discarded after each use.
As mentioned, the Covid-19 virus is spread via droplets, which is why it is so important to protect the various orifices of the face.
Care workers are at an increased risk of infection, due to the fact that they are likely to come into contact with service users and patients that happen to cough, sneeze, and even spit when speaking/shouting.
This is why it is so important to protect the face. Protection for the face via PPE can come from the following:
• Safety glasses/goggles
• Fluid face visor or shield
• Surgical mask with an integrated visor
Just as with masks, eyewear/protection must be well-fitting, it must be worn at all times when required, it must not dangle freely, it must not be touched once it is on, and it must be replaced if damaged/compromised.
For single session use, disposable eyewear and face wear is recommended, where upon completion of the procedure/task, it can be disposed of as clinical waste.
There are exceptions, as reusable eyewear is available and acceptable, providing it is thoroughly decontaminated between single or single-session use.
One of the simplest, and most effective ways of preventing infection and the spread of Covid-19, is through thorough handwashing.
Studies have found that washing the hands thoroughly with anti-bacterial soap and water, is by far the most effective way of removing the virus from the hands.
Ideally you should wet, later, scrub, rinse, and dry the hands with disposable paper towels for at least 30 seconds.
When there is no access to running water, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer consisting of at least 60% alcohol, is a very handy alternative, though it is not as effective as thorough hand washing with soap.
Personal protective equipment | First Steps. (2020). Retrieved 29 May 2020, from https://rcni.com/hosted-content/rcn/first-steps/personal-protective-equipment
COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE). (2020). Retrieved 29 May 2020, from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-infection-prevention-and-control/covid-19-personal-protective-equipment-ppe
Virtus Care is fully regulated by the Care Quality Commission which is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. As quoted in our CQC report: A person using the service told us, "I have the best carers in Britain. They know how to deal with my mental health issues, they support me, they calm me down."
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Notting Hill
London
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