How to Choose Medical PPE
Standard precautions assume every casualty's blood and body fluids are potentially infectious. PPE is the barrier between you and that exposure, and the discipline of putting it on before you make contact is what makes it work. A responder who becomes a second casualty helps no one.
The core barriers
| Item | Protects against |
|---|
| Nitrile exam gloves | Blood and fluid contact; nitrile avoids latex-allergy risk and resists punctures better than vinyl |
| Eye protection | Splash and spatter to the mucous membranes of the eyes |
| Mask / N95 | Droplet and, for N95, airborne respiratory exposure |
| Gown / apron | Fluid soak-through to clothing and skin in high-splash situations |
Practical points
- Glove sizing and stock depth — the wrong size tears or slows you down; carry multiples, since gloves are changed between patients.
- Don before contact, doff without contaminating — the removal sequence matters as much as putting it on.
- Match the threat — a routine bandage is different from a high-splash hemorrhage or an airborne-respiratory scene.
Stocking a program? Put gloves and a barrier in every kit and carry surge stock for multi-casualty events. Anchor the plan with the
trauma-response brief.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are nitrile gloves preferred over latex or vinyl?
Nitrile resists punctures better than vinyl and avoids the allergy risk associated with latex, which is why it is the standard for medical exam gloves. It also holds up well to fuels and many chemicals.
What PPE should be in every kit?
At minimum, a pair or more of nitrile exam gloves and a barrier for rescue breathing. Higher-risk and team kits add eye protection, a mask or N95, and a fluid-resistant gown or apron.
When should I put PPE on?
Before patient contact, as part of scene size-up. Standard precautions treat every casualty's blood and fluids as potentially infectious, so the barrier goes on before you touch the patient, not after.
What is body-substance isolation?
Body-substance isolation, part of standard precautions, is the practice of using barriers, gloves, eye protection, and masks, to prevent contact with a patient's blood and body fluids regardless of known infection status.
How many gloves should I stock?
Carry several pairs per responder, since gloves are changed between patients and can tear. Programs covering multi-casualty events should hold surge stock well beyond day-to-day needs.
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