Intro

The COVID-19 pandemic has quickly spread all over the world and consumed many lives. With hospitals and medical staff being overburdened by the number of cases, the most that you can do is take precautionary measures to stave off an infection.

While it is recommended to stay in your own house as much as possible, there will be times that you will need to get groceries or do some essential chores. In such situations, it is crucial that you know how not to get infected with COVID-19.

We have created this essential guide to help get you the information on coronavirus PPE for non-medical persons. These are the personal protective equipment for non-medical use that can help keep you out of the hospital.

Hand Wash and Sanitizer

The virus can easily spread if you touch your face (eyes or mouth) with your infected hand. This is why it is pertinent that you frequently clean your hands with either soap or a sanitizer.

While you should stop going outside and meeting/interacting with people, there are moments when you might need to do so for bare necessities.

Using a high alcohol content sanitizer (usually above 70%) will be most effective at cleaning your hand in these circumstances. Anything below 60% will not do the trick, and worse, it will give you a false sense of comfort.

Face Masks

Face masks are essential if you go outside or meet/interact with other people. Coronavirus usually spreads through airborne particles that are released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or breathes.

If you plan to go to an area known to have infected people, it is vital that you wear an N95 or KN95 mask.

These are the most effective masks when it comes to protecting yourself and your family from the coronavirus because they capture 95% of 0.3-micron particles.

While it is best to get an N95 or KN95 mask, these can sometimes be in short supply, and medical personnel may be more in need of them. They are also more expensive than other types of masks.

If you don’t plan on going to a populated area and staying mostly indoors, it may suffice to keep a pack of surgical masks at hand. Be sure to throw them away after single use. Or you can use neoprene masks which are reusable and more comfortable (and more fashionable) to wear.

Gloves

Nitrile gloves are the best option if you are planning to go grocery shopping. Make sure to throw them away and sanitizing your hand before getting into your car or entering your home.

You can also use polythene gloves, but these will be a bit more unwieldy and less protective.

Alcohol Wipes or Spray

Alcohol wipes or sprays are a great way to disinfect your car, home, or any visitors that may need to come by to your place. Be sure to wipe frequently handled surfaces.

We hope that with this essential COVID-19 PPE guide for non-medical persons, you are better informed about the precautionary measures you can take to help defeat COVID-19. Stay safe and remember: stay home, save lives!