Personal Protective Equipment or PPE supplies are a must for healthcare professionals when it comes to their own safety, and they have been donning it since a long time, to protect themselves of deadly microbes and other contagious diseases.
But with the advent of Covid-19 in 2020, PPE supplies are no longer exclusive with the healthcare professionals only. And while the disease is still spreading like a wildfire, PPE has been one of the most important help to combat the global pandemic.
But What Exactly Do The PPE Supplies Consist Of?
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), PPE refers to “protective clothing. Helmets, gloves, face shields, goggles, facemasks and/or respirators or other equipment designed to protect the wearer from injury or the spread of infection or illness.”
The World health Organisation (WHO) believes that the protective equipment should usually consist of gloves, mask and gown.
But not all sorts of protective clothing are required for everyone. Let’s take a closer look at the most essential forms of PPE, and what they protect from, keeping in mind the times of Covid-19.
Face Masks: This is of utmost importance. The common features of Covid-19 are very similar to those of a common respiratory infection, and it spreads primarily through saliva droplets or nose discharge of the novel coronavirus infected people.
And it becomes more important when a lot of people have been tested Covid-19 positive but are asymptomatic.
While face masks contain your saliva and other discharges in the mask (in case you are infected), protecting those around you, it also protects you (if healthy) from breathing in saliva droplets of an infected person, which are flung into the air.
Gloves: According to several reports, traces of the novel coronavirus have been found on surfaces even after days of its exposure. And you would not understand what you are touching on to.
To stay steer clear of the infection, you can rather opt for gloves and prevent your hands from being exposed to the virus. While we use our hands for everything that we do, if exposed to the novel coronavirus, it can infect us very easily, if not sanitised properly.
If sanitising your hands every now is a problem for you, you can opt for disposable gloves. But be careful while removing it. Remove it with the least touch, dispose it in a closed dustbin and wash your hands with soap and water, or sanitise it thoroughly.
There are PPE suppliers all over the world, but are they being able to make up to the worldwide demands of the PPE kits?
Since the PPE supplies have been playing a vital role in reducing the transmission of Covid-19, there has been a lack in the availability of PPE kits, globally.
A poll was conducted by a leading tech news portal, Verdict, to analyse the reach and adequacy of PPE supplies to hospitals during the ongoing pandemic. The poll said that the supplies have been insufficient, as said by 59% of the participants, whereas 21% said that despite having sufficient supplies, they aren’t reaching out to most of the people. Whereas only 14% felt that the supplies were sufficient and they are reaching out to everyone.
Shortage of PPE Supplies amid the Pandemic
The global pandemic has led to a stark and constant rise in demand and hoarding of PPE supplies including gowns, masks, gloves, goggles, N95 respirators, and face shields, though nothing except face masks are really required for general healthy individuals.
As a result, a constant severe shortage of these supplies has put the lives of the front-line workers at risk. Some may have overcome the shortage, but many countries are still facing it, which as the US FDA believes is to stay for the entire tenure of the pandemic.
If you are looking to buy the basic safety kits, many PPE suppliers, like KEPLIN have those on offer at affordable prices. This is a tough time that we are going through. So, let’s just help others, stay home and stay fit.
