How to use personal protective equipment.

This article offers a refresher on what personal protective equipment (PPE) is, how to choose the right PPE and how to wear and remove it safely. PPE aims to improve staff and patient safety, but self-contamination commonly occurs during its removal; failure to remove PPE carefully can lead to contamination of the user's skin, own clothes, uniform or scrubs, hair, face and hands. The importance of correct PPE use has been highlighted by the ebola crisis and NHS preparations to deal with patients who are infected.