Sadly, healthcare workers worldwide are often not getting the protection they need from airborne disease,such as the current swine flu. In this current swine flu outbreak, CDC began suggesting that surgical masks will do to protect healthcare workers (without the nylon stockings mentioned in this song). Much evidence regarding airborne transmission and the need for true respirators has accumulated since this video was made. A recent report by the US Institute of Medicine (IOM) RESPIRATORY PROTECTION FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN THE WORKPLACE AGAINST NOVEL H1N1 INFLUENZA A (HTTP://WWW.NAP.EDU ) supports that health care workers who interact with patients suspected or confirmed to be infected with novel H1N1 influenza Ashould wear fitted N95 respirators, which filter better than looser medical masks. However, wearing N95 respirators should be only one element of workers' and health care organizations' infection control strategies. Without knowing the contributions of each of the possible route(s) of transmission of flu, including swine flu, all routes must be considered probable and consequential, and healthcare workers must be protected from all routes of exposure. Respirators are the only PPE designed to protect against airborne exposures. Surgical or procedure masks will not protect against airborne flu exposure. Respirators are personal protective devices that cover the nose and mouth (or in some cases, more of the face and head) and are used to reduce the wearers risk of inhaling hazardous airborne particles. Respirators worn by healthcare workers not only will protect them, but also may reduce the spread of disease from one patient to another (via the healthcare worker) or from an infected but asymptomatic healthcare worker. One of the challenges for the healthcare field is to clearly understand the differences between respirators and medical masks as well as their appropriate uses. Medical masks (the term is used in this report to encompass surgical masks and procedure masks) are loose-fitting coverings of the nose and mouth designed to protect the patient from the cough or exhaled secretions of the physician, nurse, or other healthcare worker. Medical masks are not designed or certified to protect the wearer from exposure to airborne hazards. They may offer some limited, as yet largely undefined, protection as a barrier to splashes and large droplets. However, because of the loose-fitting design of medical masks and their lack of protective engineering, medical masks are not considered personal protective equipment. Because medical masks are readily available to healthcare workers and are lower in cost than respirators, but are not designed to provide respiratory protection, there is a need to clearly delineate the differences for healthcare management and workers. In 2007 the US Institute of Medicine issued their report, Preparing for an Influenza Pandemic: Personal
Protective Equipment for Healthcare Workers, which reviewed these issues. The IOM report can be found at http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3740/29908/46095.aspx . This clip is from the Australian Government Department of Health and Agings DVD "Pandemic Infuenza Preparedness, Safe Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)". Downloadable clips from this DVD are available at http://www.health.gov.au/internet/panflu/publishing.nsf/Content/safeuse-dvd-1
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1:39Surgical Maskby SingHealthTV18,631 views
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