Hospitals, clinics and birthing centers health workers may always have that essence of hygiene stapled on their forehead. But if you carefully dissect the work hazards that these people face each day, you can clearly see the variations of life threatening hazards haunting for them, waiting for one wrong move. The risk of contamination and infection from blood and bodily fluid discharges might even result to serious infection or even death to some. As such, growing important is being given on proper healthcare apparel and footwear.
Known in the past as protective barriers, these work clothing and shoes requirements are now being collectively called personal protective equipment. They must be worn by the staff, no matter what position, while they are on duty. This is to protect patient's well-being from possible contaminants that worker might bring from the outside as well as a shield also for the worker from acquiring infection or contamination detrimental to his or her system.
Usual PPEs include gowns or scrub suits, gloves, masks, apron, respirators, goggles or glasses, enclosed shoes and other important requirements that may be specified by a particular job. Most facilities usually make use of washable cloth or disposable paper varieties which are inefficient in holding out to fluids. The best kinds are usually made of synthetic materials or treated fabrics that disallow any form of seepage into the body. However, these are quite pricey.
One of the ever-present protective wear is the gloves. Used virtually in handling wounds, blood, contaminated surfaces, secretions and excretions, this particular devise helps eliminate the spread of disease or contamination from patient to patient. As a standard, this should be used only on a single person or task and must be properly disposed of afterwards. Checking one patient from the next must mean changing of gloves to prevent transfer.
Running alongside the use of gloves is the importance of masks as part of a health worker's protective wear. Standard size of a mask should be enough to cover nose, lower face area, mouth, jaw and facial hair. This prevents further transfer of airborne pathogens usually taking place when an infected individual sneezes, coughs or speaks. Some serious problems usually require more stringent respirators especially when disease is airborne.
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Doctors, nurses, lab technicians, radiologists and other health workers usually have uniforms commonly called as scrub suits. This is, often, practiced to provide the public a sense of professionalism and hygienic values upheld in the facility. Though keeping appearances is important, this uniform actually helps prevent possible threat from entering the body.
Footwear requirement must never be ignored. One has to think of adequate support as well as comfort when wearing such protective gear. Not only will it help shield the feet from any form of harm from sharp devices, it will also help prevent injury to the joints and tendons. Some even use shoe covers when in operation or delivery room to prevent contamination.
If it is a safe working place you need, healthcare apparel and footwear must be carefully worn while on duty. This somehow guarantees welfare of the patient as well as that of the health worker handling the dirty work. When one wears them accordingly, it can effortlessly prevent infection and disease from spreading.
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