April 7, 2020
Protecting yourself from COVID-19 while out in public: Should we be wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?
In this time of social isolation, we all want to do the right thing to protect ourselves and our loved ones from COVID-19. We wash our hands many times a day, try not to touch our face, and frequently disinfect the high-trafficked areas and surfaces in our homes. We only go out for groceries and errands when absolutely necessary and try to keep at least two metres away from other people while doing so.
How to keep safe in public?
The flood of information can make it difficult to separate fact from fiction, and in the rapidly evolving situation we are in, rumors and misinformation can be dangerous. It is important to obtain up to date public health recommendations from credible sources including Alberta Health, Public Health Agency of Canada, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, and the World Health Organization.
FACE MASKS
We know that the COVID-19 virus is spread mainly from person-to-person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Therefore, if you are sick or showing symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, fever, sore throat, runny nose, or shortness of breath) you SHOULD wear a facemask when you are around other people. This includes going to a store, riding in a vehicle with others, or entering a healthcare facility.
Masks are most useful during prolonged, close interactions involving potentially sick people. The CDC and Alberta Health are now recommending the use of non-medical cloth face covers for all asymptomatic people when going out in public when there is potential that you are unable to be more than 2 metres or 6 feet apart from others. Because you can spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick, face coverings are a means of protecting others more than yourself. They prevent your own respiratory droplets from contaminating other people and surfaces and may stop you from touching your nose and mouth.
If you choose to use a non-medical face mask:
· You must wash your hands immediately before
putting it on and taking it off, in addition to practicing good hand hygiene
while wearing it
· It should be non-gaping and fit well; avoid
adjusting it while wearing
· You should not share it with others
· Avoid touching your face while wearing it
· Change it as soon as it is damp or soiled as it
may be contaminated
· Carry a plastic bag for used masks and wash
immediately in hot water and dry thoroughly on the highest temperature
Please refer to the CDC’s website (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/DIY-cloth-face-covering-instructions.pdf)
for further information on cloth face coverings and a DIY tutorial on making
your own.
As there is a critical shortage for PPE for frontline healthcare workers, it is important to leave surgical and N95 masks to protect those who are working hard to care for us all during this pandemic.
GLOVES
With a shortage of hand sanitizer recently, many people are resorting to wearing disposable gloves while out shopping with the assumption that the gloves are acting as a barrier between you and the virus. The CDC reports that wearing gloves can actually be problematic for protecting yourself against COVID-19.
If you are like most people, you probably go about your regular shopping routine including checking your shopping list on your phone, touching the produce, pushing the cart, and making payment from your wallet. You may even touch your face inadvertently. Although your hands underneath the gloves are fine, everywhere else touched with a glove is contaminated. A dirty glove may actually be worse than a dirty hand as it may, again, create a false sense of security. Gloves only provide protection if they are taken off properly; otherwise you contaminate your hands when you remove them. Touching objects with contaminated gloves (such as food products) simply spreads the contamination.
Going without gloves forces us to be mindful, to be more careful about not touching our face and washing our hands as soon as we get home. Keeping hand sanitizer, if available, in your purse, pocket, or vehicle will aid in protecting yourself until you are able to wash your hands with soap and water. Using disinfecting wipes in your vehicle to wipe down your steering wheel and other high-touch areas such as your phone and keys will also help prevent further contamination.
Use of gloves are recommended, however, when handling fluids from a close contact if they are infected with COVID-19. If you choose to wear gloves, opt for disposable gloves and ensure they are thrown directly in the trash. Wash your hands immediately after removal.
BOTTOMLINE
Masks and gloves will not and cannot replace good hygiene. Continue to practice regular handwashing, disinfecting procedures, social distancing, and stay home when you are sick.
For further information on keeping yourself safe from COVID-19, please refer to the following links:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html
Stay safe and be kind,
Michelle Williams, Nurse Practitioner
Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network
www.lbdpcn.com
