In March 2020, many countries around the world, including Australia, were facing a significant crisis over the stockpile of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). In the US, hospitals were shutting their doors due to a lack of PPE, and the community was exhorted to sew cloth masks for health workers, who were resorting to homemade PPE (Jacobs et al., 2020). As the epidemic hit the US and catastrophic PPE shortages unfolded, the US Centre for Disease Control downgraded their recommendations to surgical masks, saying bandanas can substitute for a mask as a last resort. The situation was not as dire, but quite concerning in some states of Australia (Knaus, 2020).QuestionsDo you think there was a PPE shortage in Australia in the first part of 2020? Explain using your understanding of the demand and supply framework and illustrate using an appropriate diagram.

Healthcare workers treating patients with infections are at risk of infection themselves. To protect themselves against lets from coughs, sneezes or body fluids from infected patients and contaminated surfaces, they use personal protective equipment (PPE), e.g., aprons, gowns or coveralls, gloves, masks and breathing equipment (respirators), and goggles.But if not worn correctly, these may endanger healthcare workers when they remove PPE. Covering more of the body leads to better protection. Coveralls are the most difficult PPE to remove but may offer the best protection, followed by long gowns and aprons. Respirators worn with coveralls may protect better than a mask worn with a gown, but are more difficult to put on. More breathable types of PPE may lead to similar levels of contamination but be more comfortable. Gowns that have gloves, and gowns that fit tightly at the neck may reduce contamination. Also, adding tabs to gloves and face masks may lead to less contamination. More breathable types provide greater comfort and satisfaction but may lead to similar contamination. Face-to-face training in PPE use is recommended as the most effective strategy to reduce errors. But to find out which combinations of PPE protect best; we still need further research findings, simulation studies with more participants, and more real-life evidence. Safe removal of PPE is ..... the way it is put on by the health workers.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for standard precautions include all the following EXCEPT: Gloves when touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, contaminated items, for touching mucous membranes and non-intact skin Gowns during procedures and patient care activities when contact of clothing/exposed skin with blood/body fluids, secretions, or excretions is anticipated Gloves, gowns and masks for all routine care Masks and goggles or a face shield during patient care activities likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions

Do you have any condition that would prevent you from wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) while at work, including disposable masks and gloves?*

What personal protective equipment (PPE) is ALWAYS required by a support worker in a medical emergency:a. Gownb. Glovesc. Gogglesd. Face shieldChatGPTChatGPT

In applying standard precautions, what is the purpose of wearing PPE?To reduce hand hygiene requirementsIt looks professional and identifies healthcare workersTo protect the healthcare worker from exposure to blood and body fluidsAll of the above