Personal Protective Equipment and Standard Precautions

Personal Protective Equipment

PPE (personal protective equipment) protects care providers from being exposed to infectious disease and can help prevent spreading a disease through a facility. PPE includes items such as:

• Masks

• Gloves

• Impervious gowns

• Face shields or goggles

• Respirators

Using PPE

Using PPE properly ensures that the equipment is providing the highest level of protection. It is important to select the correct size for items like gloves, masks, and gowns. PPE must also be put on and taken off in the correct order to provide the greatest protection and to avoid contamination.

For more information about PPE selection and use, click here to visit the CDC.

Standard Precautions

Standard Precautions are based on a risk assessment, and make use of common sense practices and personal protective equipment use that protect care providers from infection and prevent the spread of infection. 

Precautions include common sense practices such as:

• Frequent and proper hand hygiene

• Following proper respiratory/coughing etiquette

• Proper handling of soiled or contaminated items

• Using PPE when indicated

Implementing Standard Precautions

Most standard precautions are easy to implement and can be easily taught to children.
Visit the hand hygiene page to view hand-washing techniques and for downloadable resources.

For more information about standard precautions, click here to visit the CDC.