How should one doff PPE?

Doffing personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly is crucial to prevent contamination and ensure safety. The correct approach is to doff PPE from top to bottom. This method minimizes the risk of exposing your skin or clothing to contaminants that may be on the outer surfaces of the equipment. When done in this manner, the most heavily contaminated items are removed first, starting from the outermost layer, which typically is the gown or suit, and proceeding downwards to masks and gloves that are closer to the body.

Doffing in order of usage is also a practical approach, but the top-to-bottom method ensures a systematic and safe removal process. Other methods, such as alphabetical order, do not provide a logical or safe sequence for removing potentially contaminated gear and could lead to mistakes that increase the risk of exposure.

Focusing on safety protocols is essential in maintaining health standards, especially in healthcare environments where the risk of infectious diseases is higher.