PPE: Donning & Doffing

Donning

  1. Start with clean hands. Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
  2. Identify and gather the proper PPE to don. Make sure your labcoat or gown fits properly and is able to close.
  3. Put on a face mask or N-95 respirator (if required)
  • Facemask: Mask ties should be secured on crown of head (top tie) and base of neck (bottom tie). If mask has loops, hook them appropriately around your ears. View more information on Facemasks Do's and Don'ts.
  • Respirator: Respirator straps should be placed on crown of head (top strap) and base of neck (bottom strap). Perform a user seal check each time you put on the respirator. View more information on taking your respirator on / respirator off.
  • Respirator / facemask should be extended under chin. Both your mouth and nose should be protected.
  1. Put on goggles or face shield (if required)
  2. Put on gloves. Gloves should cover the cuff (wrist) of labcoat/gown.

 

Doffing

  1. Remove gloves. Ensure glove removal does not cause additional contamination of hands. Dispose in biohazard box. Example of proper glove removal can be found here.
  2. Remove gown / labcoat. Dispose in biohazard box.
  3. Wash hands. Use soap and water for 20 seconds.
  4. Remove goggles or face shield.
  • If your hands get contaminated during goggle or face shield removal, immediately wash your hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  • Remove goggles or face shield from the back by lifting head band or ear pieces
  1. Remove mask or respirator.
  • Respirator: Remove the bottom strap by touching only the strap and bring it carefully over the head. Grasp the top strap and bring it carefully over the head, and then pull the respirator away from the face without touching the front of the respirator.
  • Facemask: Carefully untie (or unhook from the ears) and pull away from face without touching the front.
  • If your hands get contaminated during mask/respirator removal, immediately wash your hands. Discard in biohazard waste box.
  1. After all PPE is removed, wash hands immediately with soap and water for 20 seconds.

Here is an illustrated example of donning and doffing from the CDC.