Even though there is a shortage in the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), it is very important to ensure your safety while you are working as a healthcare worker at a hospital.

According to the CDC, it is not recommended to use PPE in a way that does not follow the practice for standard infection prevention and control (IPC). However, in times of crisis and limited supply of PPE at your place of work, you can employ emergency strategies to extend the use of your PPE while being mindful of your exposure to COVID-19.

If you are running low on PPE, you may want to consider using reusable PPE such as cloth gowns and reusable goggles, if available. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and disinfecting your PPE, and there should be staff dedicated to ensuring that it has gone through a complete and thorough reprocessing.

If you are reprocessing PPE, make sure you regularly inspect for degradation, or the wear and tear from use that could affect the effectiveness of your PPE to protect you from COVID-19. This is very important because the use of broken PPE could give you a false sense of security while exposing you to droplets carrying the COVID-19 virus.

Source: CDC