Why Use PPE?

Adequate use of Personal Protective Equipment increases the prevention of viral and bacterial infection transmission, including Covid-19(Coronavirus)

PPE essentially creates a barrier between the user and any type of microbes which may be in the air or water vapor.

Frontline Health Workers need access to high level barrier protection to carry out their services.  Due to the fact that they service many people in a short period of time and in enclosed spaces, Level 3, NIOSH certification disposable items are the most effective to safeguard the health worker and patient.

Update June 2020 CDC guidelines regarding Universal Source Control Measures and implementation:

Source control refers to use of cloth face coverings or facemasks to cover a person’s mouth and nose to prevent spread of respiratory secretions when they are talking, sneezing, or coughing. Because of the potential for asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, source control measures are recommended for everyone in a healthcare facility, even if they do not have symptoms of COVID-19.

HCP(Health Care Professional) should wear a facemask at all times while they are in the healthcare facility, including in break rooms or other spaces where they might encounter co-workers.

When available, facemasks are preferred over cloth face coverings for HCP as facemasks offer both source control and protection for the wearer against exposure to splashes and sprays of infectious material from others.

Cloth face coverings should NOT be worn instead of a respirator or facemask if more than source control is needed.

Respirators with an exhalation valve are not recommended for source control, as they allow unfiltered exhaled breath to escape.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-recommendations.html