PPE Use in Healthcare Settings I: Donning

Before donning PPE, the wearer must remove any jewelry, tie their hair back, put away their mobile phone, adequately hydrate, use the restroom, and perform hand hygiene.

The sequence of donning starts with the shoe covers, followed by the gown, mask or respirator, face shield or goggles, and then gloves.

It is important to select the right size and type of gown that covers the wearer's torso from the neck to the knees and from the arms to the wrists. The gown must wrap around the back and be securely tied at the neck and waist.

The wearer should adjust the mask or respirator so that it covers the nose, mouth, and chin adequately. The nose piece must fit over the nose bridge and be secured on the head with ties or elastic.

In the case of a respirator, it is important to select the right size and check its fit upon wearing to detect any leakage.

To don the eye protection, the wearer should only grasp the earpieces and not touch the front lenses. The face shield must be secured on the brow with its headband.

Finally, the wearer should put on gloves of the appropriate type and size to protect their hands. It is important to note that gloves must cover the gown cuffs.