FHS Covid-19 Handbook
PPE Training and Information
PPE Training
PPE TRAINING
Welcome to the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Training Workshop
Infection prevention and control is the first step for health and safety. Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a scientific approach and practical solution intended to prevent harm caused by infection to persons, patients and health workers. It is grounded in infectious diseases, epidemiology, social science and health system strengthening.
An important component of IPC is personal protective equipment (PPE) which is clothing or equipment designed to act as a barrier between an individual’s skin, mouth, nose, or eyes and viral and bacterial infections. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is specifically used to protect clinical and non-clinical health workers from exposure to body fluids or from droplet or airborne pathogens, chemicals or heat. The use of PPE is based on risk assessment and evidence of the route of transmission for a given microbe.
When used properly and with other infection control practices such as hand-washing, using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and covering coughs and sneezes, PPE minimizes the spread of infection from one person to another.
All clinical sites will be providing required PPE to students. The University will provide two cloth masks (Wits logo) as well as once off, back up provision of PPE for your use in the event that you are not able to source these in your clinical sites. The Back-up PPE includes 1 box of 50 surgical masks, 1 set of goggles, 1 visor and 1 bottle of hand sanitising gel.
PPE FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND STUDENTS DURING COVID-19
This poster from the NDOH demonstrates the three levels of PPE required for three levels of risk you may be exposed to when providing care for patients in the clinical settings. PPE for Low risk setting with treatment for non-COVID-19 patients is a surgical mask, no other PPE is needed. PPE for High risk settings with treatment of confirmed or presumptive COVID-19 patients is a surgical mask, apron, visor or goggles and non-sterile gloves. N95 mask is not needed unless performing aerosol-generating procedures (AGP) for confirmed or presumptive COVID-19 patients. Students are to follow these PPE guidelines along with protocols for each clinic/hospital.
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