The latest Public Health England (PHE) recommendations for PPE in secondary care are listed below.
When to use an FFP3 respirator
When carrying out aerosol generating procedures (AGP) on a patient with possible or confirmed COVID-19 in high risk areas where AGPs are being conducted (e.g. ICU).
Aerosol generating procedures
- Intubation, extubation and related procedures
- Tracheotomy/tracheostomy procedures
- Manual ventilation
- Open suctioning
- Bronchoscopy
- Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) e.g. Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ventilation (CPAP)
- Surgery and post-mortem procedures in which high-speed devices are used
- High-frequency oscillating ventilation (HFOV)
- High-flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO) (NOT standard Nasal Specs)
- Induction of sputum
- Some dental procedures (e.g. high speed drilling)
- If you are unsure if a procedure is aerosol-generating please ask before carrying it out
PPE should be put on and removed in an order that minimises the potential for self-contamination. The order for PPE removal is gloves, hand hygiene apron or gown, eye protection, hand hygiene, surgical face mask or FFP3 respirator, hand hygiene.
Mask use
- Fluid resistant surgical masks can be worn until damp (i.e. more than one patient)
- FFP3 can be worn for at least an hour (i.e. more than one patient)
- Once mask is removed from face (e.g. to have a drink) then must be disposed safely
Care workers in settings such as a domiciliary care should use personal protective equipment (PPE) for activities that bring them into close personal contact, such as washing and bathing, personal hygiene and contact with bodily fluids. Aprons, gloves and fluid repellent surgical masks should be used in these situations. If there is a risk of splashing, then eye protection will minimise risk.
New personal protective equipment must be used for each episode of care.
If you require PPE, please contact Wightman & Parrish by emailing sales@w-p.co.uk and we will contact you to establish your PPE needs.
