Skip to main content

Preparing for an Influenza Pandemic Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Workers (2008) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

6 Moving Forward with Urgency
Pages 169-172

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 169...
... As a result, the surge capacity to treat ill patients could be severely impaired. This report emphasizes the current lack of preparedness for effective use of personal protective equipment and acknowledges that PPE is one component of a set of strategies that offer protection to healthcare workers such as vaccines, antiviral medications, and infection control practices including hand hygiene and environmental and administrative controls.
Read the entire page →
From page 170...
... The set of recommendations emerging from this report can be grouped into three broad categories with the overarching theme of rigorously ensuring the safety of healthcare workers so that they can continue to care for and protect their patients as shown in Figure 6-1. The task of the committee focused on protecting workers in the emergency situation of an influenza pandemic; however, the improvements resulting from implementation of the recommendations in this report have the potential to further enhance worker safety in other healthcare situations as well as in other industries and workplaces.
Read the entire page →
From page 171...
... • Commit to worker safety and appropriate use of PPE -- Due to a number of challenges including the wearability of available equipment and the lack of organizational and individual commitment to appropriate use of PPE, many healthcare workers do not currently use PPE in situations in which they face the prospect of hazardous exposures. Efforts are needed to strengthen the culture of safety in healthcare facilities and to support institutional commitments to worker safety, including use of PPE, by healthcare organizations, healthcare workers, and training and accrediting organizations.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • worker safety
  • patient care
  • control practices
  • healthcare worker
  • influenza transmission

  • personal protective
  • influenza pandemic
  • protective equipment
  • infection control
  • institutional commitments

  • challenges including
  • ensuring healthcare
  • rigorous risk
  • current lack
  • hazardous exposures

  • offer protection
  • healthcare situations
  • protecting workers
  • providing patient
  • practices including

  • transmit infection
  • enhance worker
  • recommendations emerging
  • global efforts
  • follow current

  • transmission based
  • solid scientific
  • patient safety
  • available equipment
  • home care


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.