Emory University – Welcome to Guide My PPE

Welcome to Guide My PPE2

Guide MY PPE is a tool that has been developed by NETEC, in partnership with Emory Visual Medical Education to provide you with up-to-date information and best practices on the selection and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as conservation and reuse. Please follow your facility, local and state guidance for specifics.

The app is being updated on a regular basis. The latest release date is shown at the top of this web page. Please check back often for updates.

Click the launch button to open Guide My PPE and find out more about:

Minimum PPE Required

Donning and Doffing

Do's and Don'ts

PPE Reuse

Launch Guide My PPE

Resources

Go to NETEC Resources

Know Your PPE

Guide with information about different types of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and COVID-19.

Go to Resource

NETEC Webinars

Upcoming and previous webinars from subject-matter experts.

Go to Resource

PPE Do's and Don'ts

Flyer with Do's and Don'ts of PPE Safety.

Go to Resource

PPE Conservation Resources

Flyers, guides, videos, and checklists are available.

Go to Resource

Glossary of Terms

Stay up to date with the language and terminology used to describe PPE and its use.

View Glossary of Terms

We welcome your questions and feedback on Guide My PPE.

Latest Updates

06/21/2020 7:08 pm

Guide My PPE App launched.

Glossary of Terms

This glossary of terms has been created to clarify the language used in Guide My PPE and to encourage consistency in how we talk about PPE and its use.

Cloth Mask

Manufactured or home-made masks that are made of cloth material and not originally intended for use in healthcare settings. Distinct from procedural masks or N95 respirators which are manufactured for use in healthcare settings and offer more filtration and protection from infection. In a pandemic, cloth masks are better than no mask when it comes to social distancing, if used properly.

Conserve (Conservation)

To maintain supplies of PPE during pandemics or other shortages, it may be necessary to ensure sufficient supply levels through decontamination and reuse, and to employ processes such as extended wear to utilize the same equipment for longer than the periods of time for which it was originally designed.

CAPR®

Powered Air-purifying respirator by Max AIR® Systems. It has an integrated helmet that eliminates the need for a long aritube and large belt-mounted blower unit.

Doffing

Taking off personal protective equipment such as eyewear, mask, gown, and gloves.

Donning

Putting on personal protective equipment such as eyewear, mask, gown, and gloves.

Disposable gown

Also known as a standard isolation gown or non-surgical gown. Provides a slight barrier to small amounts of fluid penetration.

Decon (Decontamination)

Cleaning PPE such as face shields or goggles, for the purposes of reusing the equipment. This is not generally recommended with most PPE, only in a situation where supplies shortages demand it.

Extended wear

Using the same PPE for multiple consecutive patient encounters.

Emory

Emory University, a top-ranked private institution recognized internationally for its outstanding liberal arts colleges, graduate and professional schools, and one of the world's leading health care systems, is located in Atlanta, Georgia.

N95 Respirator

An N95 respirator is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles. The 'N95' designation means that when subjected to careful testing, the respirator blocks at least 95 percent of very small (0.3 micron) test particles. If properly fitted, the filtration capabilities of N95 respirators exceed those of face masks. However, even a properly fitted N95 respirator does not completely eliminate the risk of illness or death.

NETEC

The National Emerging Special Pathogen Training and Education Center is comprised of faculty and staff from Emory University, the University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine and the New York Health and Hospitals Corporation, Bellevue Hospital Center. All three of these health care institutions have safely and successfully treated patients with Ebola and have worked diligently to share their knowledge with other health care facilities and public health jurisdictions.

Procedural mask

Procedural masks are traditionally characterized by an ear loop attachment, and are a lightweight and comfortable type of mask that is meant to protect the user from large droplets and protect the environment and other nearby persons from the wearer's contaminants. They are not designed to pass a fit test. It has gaps around the edges that allow many small particles to enter the respiratory system of the wearer.

PPE

Personal protective equipment. This includes eye protection, masks and respirators, gowns, coveralls, gloves, and other equipment that protects healthcare workers from infection.

PAPR

A PAPR is a battery-powered blower that provides positive airflow through a filter, cartridge, or canister to a hood or face piece

Reusable gown

A gown that can be laundered and made clean after contamination. In our app these gowns are blue.

Reuse

Using personal protective equipment that has already been used before.

Surgical mask

Characterized by straps that are ties together at the top and bottom of the mask. Similar to procedural masks, and are a lightweight and comfortable type of mask that is meant to protect the user from large droplets and protect the environment and other nearby persons from the wearer's contaminants. They are not designed to pass a fit test. It has gaps around the edges that allow many small particles to enter the respiratory system of the wearer. They are meant to help maintain a sterile environment necessary for surgery.

Social distancing

Social distancing is a set of actions taken to stop or slow the spread of a highly contagious disease. The goal of social distancing is to limit face-to-face contact to decrease the spread of illness among people in community settings. This includes interactions between healthcare workers and staff with one another and patients.

Serious Communicable Diseases Program

The Serious Communicable Disease Program (SCDP) at Emory has become a regional, national and international resource on the strict protocols that are needed to safely care for patients with special pathogens. Emory experts in medicine, nursing, administration, technology, environmental sciences, and public health comprise our model of interdisciplinary research within the Serious Communicable Diseases Program. This program strives to bridge the gap between research and bedside care, making our discoveries immediately applicable to improving patient outcomes.

Terminal doffing

Taking off PPE at the end of a patient encounter, in contrast to “extended wear” in which PPE is worn across multiple patient encounters.