Guidance on specific items

In this section

Disposable Gloves

  • Wear for any care that involves touching a resident
  • Wear within 2 metres of a resident who is coughing
  • Remove and wash hands between different tasks e.g. between helping a resident to the toilet and mouth care
  • Always remove gloves and wash hands after handling body fluids
  • Remove gloves and wash hands after each episode of care (gloves are single use only)
  • Be careful not to touch your mouth, nose or eyes while wearing gloves
  • Vinyl gloves should not be worn if you anticipate that there will be contact with bodily fluids or blood. They may be worn for routine cleaning, however if chemicals are being used as part of a decontamination schedule a COSHH assessment must be carried out and the correct PPE worn.

Disposable Plastic Aprons

  • Wear for any care that involves touching a resident
  • Wear when within 2 metres of a resident who is coughing
  • Use to protect your uniform or clothes from contamination when providing care
  • Remove and discard apron after each episode of care (disposable plastic aprons are single use)

Fluid Resistant Surgical Masks

  • Masks protect:
    • your nose & mouth from respiratory droplets from residents
    • residents and other staff from respiratory droplets from your mouth and nose (as you might be carrying the infection)
  • You can wear a mask for caring for different residents BUT do not touch the mask
    • you could transfer virus to your hands
  • Wear the mask on your face – NOT round your neck or dangling from one ear
  • Remove and discard the mask:
    • When you take a break or finish your shift
    • If it is damp, soiled, uncomfortable, difficult to breathe or worn for 4 hours
    • After providing direct personal care to a resident with confirmed COVID-19 or respiratory symptoms
  • Never reuse a mask once it have been removed

Eye Protection

  • Wear for direct contact with residents if there is a risk of respiratory droplets getting into eyes
    • e.g. resident who is coughing or vomiting
  • Clean reusable eye protection after each use using either:
    • disinfectant wipe
    • detergent and water
    • followed by chlorine disinfectant 1000ppm
    • check manufacturer’s guidelines
  • If the eye protection being used is disposable then this should be disposed immediately after use

PPE for Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGPs)

If you are required to undertake any AGPs in any community setting please inform your Manager and seek IPC advice. 

It is a legal requirement that all staff who undertake any AGPs wear enhanced PPE and an FFP3 mask. Anyone required to wear an FFP3 mask must be FIT Tested by an accredited trainer

Guidance can be found here COVID-19: personal protective equipment use for aerosol generating procedures

Page last updated on May 27th, 2021 at 10:55am

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