Gloves help protect you when directly handling potentially infectious materials or contaminated surfaces.

• Wear gloves when directly handling potentially infectious materials or in contact with contaminated surfaces.
• Vinyl, latex or nitrile gloves may be worn.
• Change gloves when visibly soiled, torn or punctured.
• Wash hands upon removing gloves. Gloves do not replace the need for excellent handwashing!

Gowns help protect you from the contamination of clothing with potentially infectious material.

• Wear a gown when contamination of clothing with potentially infectious material is possible.
• Your gown should fully cover the torso, fit close to the body and cover the arms to the wrists.
• Choose a gown appropriate to the situation:
  Disposable vs re-useable (requires laundering)
  Fluid-resistant vs non fluid-resistant
  Sterile vs clean.
  

Shoe and head covers provide a barrier against possible exposure within a contaminated environment.

Shoe Covers



• Wear shoe covers to provide a barrier against possible exposure to airborne organisms or contact with a contaminated environment.
• Use shoe covers for patients with hemorrhagic disease.



Head Covers (Bonnets)



• Wear head covers to protect the hair and scalp from possible contamination when sprays or airborne exposure is anticipated.

Surgical masks help protect your nose and mouth from splattered body fluids, respirators filter the air before you inhale it.

Surgical Masks/Procedure Masks

• Surgical masks help protect your nose and mouth from splattered body fluids (such as blood, respiratory secretions, vomit, urine or feces).



Respirators

• Respirators filter the air you breathe to help protect you from microorganisms including bacteria and many viruses.
  

  Types of respirators include: Disposable Respirators (includes N95), Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR), Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Respirators

A face shield provides splatter protection to facial skin, eyes, nose and mouth.

• Face shields protect the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth from splashes of body fluids
• Wear a face shield when facial skin protection is needed in addition to eye, nose and mouth protection.
• A face shield may be worn with an N95 respirator in place of goggles to provide eye and face protection.
• The face shield should cover the forehead, extend below the chin and wrap around the side of the face.
  

A face shield provides splatter protection to facial skin, eyes, nose and mouth.

• Goggles are a barrier style of protection for the eyes.
• Goggles should fit snuggly over and around the eyes or prescriptive lenses.
Note: prescriptive lenses do not provide adequate eye protection.