Coronavirus has truly proved itself a pandemic, but not just in the health sector. It has damaged the overall social norms of our society. Businesses at the global level have been devastated by it. So, the world community has to play its role in this dark time.
World Health Organization (WHO) is a UNO organ which regulated the world in health. WHO has been issuing guidelines since the start of the pandemic. There is no vaccine against the virus yet, so prevention is regarded as the best method against the virus. People working in healthcare are soft targets of this virus as they directly handle the infected persons. Personal protective equipment is a common toolkit at places where personal safety is mandatory.
When we talk about personal protective equipment, it doesn’t mean just clothing. Rather it includes diverse safety measures such as protective clothing, safety eyewear program, protective hearing devices, and respiratory and full-body suits, etc. Healthcare professionals need to adopt these safety measures. There are thousands of cases where healthcare professionals have lost their lives just because of insufficient safety equipment.
Here we will discuss which type of PPE should be used by people at work. Although healthcare people must take extraordinary precautionary measures, other professionals should also ensure their safety.
So, the following are some of the equipment that is included in PPE to protect the persons from Coronavirus.
Full Body Suits (Essential for Healthcare Professionals)
It may look absurd or not so fashionable to wear a full-body white or green or any color suit. It may not be as comfortable as any normal wear but it’s wiser to wear it now. Persons working in healthcare must need to wear these full-body suits. Other professionals such as Police officials also need it as they are also the soft target of the virus.
We have observed the benefit of full-body suits as millions of doctors, nurses, paramedics, and police officials are saving us while working and wearing these suits.
Usually, these suits are made of cotton or polyester. You should choose the clothing that suits your surrounding weather conditions.
Face Shields
Face shields that cover the full face is an effective way to catch or spread the virus. Face shields are generally available in plastic or glass cover and easy to wear. Whenever any person goes to any potentially infected place or person, they must wear the face shield and maintain a physical distance. These shields are fog-resistant and do not disturb the workflow.
Face Mask (Disposable and KN-95)
We normally see people wearing masks in the surgical theatre of the hospital or during a public protest. But the new normal routine after coronavirus has made it compulsory for everyone to wear masks. WHO, CDC, and other renowned organizations have recommended wearing a mask all the time outside or at work.
As we know that wearing a mask reduces the possible prevention of up to 70%. PPE industry has made it comfortable for us to wear the mask of our choice. There are disposable surgical and a special KN95 mask. For common places, the disposable mask is safe to wear. We can also use KN95 to visit any potentially infected place/person.
Considering the effectiveness of face mask, almost every organization and government in the world has made it essential to wear a face mask at any public/ private place.
Protective Goggles
Eyes are a fragile part of the body and are more sensitive to the virus. Healthcare professionals must use safety goggles while at work. These goggles protect them not from virus only, but to any possible eye hazard. Due to the bulk use of these goggles in healthcare and outdoor activities, eyewear goggles companies offer different programs to benefit themselves and the customers.
Some of the companies which offer such programs are Eyeweb safety, Honeywell safety, RX safety eyewear, and Safety Gear Pro, etc. But it’s up to you that you find these programs beneficial and economical or not. So make sure that you choose any such program wisely.
Gloves (Rubber and Disposable)
Gloves are also an integral part of our safety against the virus. During work, we touch many things and we aren’t sure about it. Any of the things can be infected from virus so we need protection for the hands. The industry has manufactured protective gloves in various styles. We can wear disposable gloves that are used for a few hours. However, for better protection, we can use rubber gloves. The medical industry is using these gloves all the time while treating COVID-19 patients.
In this crisis, the general public along with healthcare professionals are fighting against the virus with their ultimate resources. WHO and other such organizations have played their guide role significantly. And with such spirit, we are hopeful that we will recover through the crisis by doing prevention.