Safety

Know the PPE you need

Emergency Management Alert, July 6, 2004

When disaster strikes and patients begin to arrive, make sure hospital staff assess the situation to determine how to protect themselves against contamination or injury during treatment.

"People who work in the emergency department may be called in to decontaminate walk-ins from terrorist or hazardous material incidents," says Joe Cocciardi, CIH, CSP, REHS, RS, PhD, a safety and emergency planning consultant for Cocciardi and Associates, Inc., in Mechanicsburg, PA.

Staff need to be aware so they can identify whether an incident involves a chemical, biological, or radiological agent. Take time to review your emergency-preparedness plan and identify what type of personal protective equipment is necessary, he says.

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