How to Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Rescuer Safety

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used by healthcare providers to protect themselves from injury or infection during an emergency.

PPE is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s official Standard Precautions (also known as Universal Precautions) healthcare providers must take when they risk exposure to:

• Blood
• Bodily fluids (except sweat)
• Broken skin
• Mucous membranes

Lay rescuers should follow their professional counterparts by stocking first aid kits with PPE they can use when assisting victims in an emergency.