The world is still grappling with the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontliners who bravely battle the deadly coronavirus. Very few health workers are lucky to still avail of wearing protection from head to toe.

With the scarcity in supply, it is important that these PPE are properly worn to ensure infection control in health care settings.

Dr. Ryan Seheult, a Californian critical care specialist shares how to effectively use PPE in hospitals through their YouTube channel MedCram (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN-8bGB1cLM).

He explained that he works as a frontliner himself and delivers care to coronavirus patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“For the first time this week, I have seen the eyes of the enemy. I am working in intensive care unit where I’m taking care of covid-19 patients and it’s completely changed how we do work. We are very conscious about personal protective equipment,” he said.

Seheult explained that it is a must to have an n95 mask covered up with a surgical mask. He also advised the importance of wearing eye and hair protection.

“(It’s) not your typical eyewear protection, its goggles, so that the virus if it is in the air doesn’t get into your eyes and you also have to have a hair cover like a cap or a hat not to mention that you have to have gloves on and gown.”

For some, shoe covers are also required to be worn in healthcare facilities to ensure maximum protection against the infection.

Aside from knowing how to wear PPE, it is equally important to know how to properly take these off without contaminating the wearer. The removal of PPE should take place in a doffing area that is separate from the patient’s room and the clean area used for donning.

“The hard part is after you’ve got in the room and done what you’re supposed to do and now you’re about to come out because you got to assume that the virus has landed in every part of your exterior surface,” Dr. Seheult stressed.

He also noted that the hospital where he worked has negative pressure rooms. These are areas that allow air to flow in, but not escape from the room in order to prevent the contaminated air from flowing out.

The medical expert also encouraged the public to strictly follow coronavirus prevention tips which include proper handwashing, use of disinfectants and sanitizers and on top of these is social distancing.

For health workers and individuals who are still in search of PPE, you may visit the website of a California-based industrial and medical equipment supplier through this link https://ameriget.com/.

Merry Gel Sigui

A multimedia journalist focused on producing articles about controversial global issues specifically on business, economy, politics, and technology. A strong believer in freedom of the press and exposing the wrong. only through engagement and communications can we as humans evolve. An accredited member of a leading local broadcast media organization.

A multimedia journalist focused on producing articles about controversial global issues specifically on business, economy, politics, and technology. A strong believer in freedom of the press and exposing the wrong. only through engagement and communications can we as humans evolve. An accredited member of a leading local broadcast media organization.