The online learning package focuses on the putting on and removal of PPE used routinely for the majority of infectious diseases. It does not cover the additional layers of PPE required in diseases rarely found in Australia e.g. viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHF) such as Ebola. If you require specific information for PPE in response to suspected or confirmed COVID-19, please refer to SA Health Infection control and personal protective equipment (PPE) advice.

The videos within this module were adopted from the 2008 Department of Health Safe Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). However the safe use of PPE is relevant for standard precautions and transmission-based precautions for those infectious agents that require PPE to be used. It is imperative that items are put on correctly and are removed in a safe manner to avoid self contamination.

Relevance

This course is intended for multidisciplinary clinical and non-clinical staff who are required to use personal protective equipment (PPE) during their work activities.

This course does not address the PPE required when using cytotoxic therapy.

Course prerequisite

Successful completion of the annual National Hand Hygiene Initiative online learning modules for your organisation is a prerequisite for this course.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course participants should be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge of the key principles relating to putting on (donning) and taking off (doffing) PPE
• outline the importance of wearing appropriate PPE in the prevention of infection
• identify the practices that minimise the risk of contamination to themselves and the patient when applying and removing PPE
• demonstrate knowledge of how to apply the principles of wearing PPE in clinical practice.

Share this with your colleagues, download the Safe Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) A4 promotional flyer/poster