Which action is essential before donning PPE?

• A. Don PPE while wearing jewelry
• B. Inspect PPE for defects before use
• C. Don PPE without hand hygiene
• D. Reuse PPE across shifts

Answer: (C)

Hand hygiene before donning PPE is essential. Cleaning your hands first reduces the chance of transferring microorganisms to the protective gear and then to the patient or to surfaces you’ll touch while wearing it. Even if hands look clean, invisible germs can be carried on skin or under nails, and putting on gloves, gowns, masks, or face shields with dirty hands can compromise the entire protective barrier. Perform thorough hand hygiene using soap and water when hands are visibly soiled, or use an alcohol-based hand rub when they are not, and then proceed to apply PPE.

Removing jewelry before PPE is advised because rings and bracelets can harbor microbes and interfere with proper hand hygiene and PPE seals. Checking PPE for defects before use is also important to ensure it provides the intended protection, and PPE should not be reused across shifts due to contamination risks.