Q. Is this product intended for Surgical Use?
A. No.
Surgical gowns and Infectious Disease apparel are conceptual and design opposites. A surgical gown aims to prevent a doctor’s dust and germs from reaching a patient, used for example in an orthopedic replacement surgery where a patient has an open hip or shoulder and maintaining a sterile environment minimizes patient infection. Infectious Disease apparel defends the opposite direction: the patient’s germs from reaching the doctor. Different threats require different defenses. A surgical or isolation gown needs stringent manufacturing procedures to achieve sterility. Infectious disease apparel requires a barrier that does not permit passage of infected liquids through it, must protect the mucous membranes (most surgical gowns do not), and aims to minimize self-contamination during doffing of soiled surfaces. The differences can be conceptually summarized using the lock on one's front door: it works well in one direction, but is near useless in the opposite direction.
Q. Can I wear an N95 respirator or face mask under the hood?
A. The encapsulating coverall filters incoming air through a 95% or 99% filter. However, there is plenty of space in the hood for an N95 respirator if the person wants extra filtration. This is a decision for the user and/or hospital administration.
Q. What can I do to speed donning?
A. The gown is optimized for doffing when there are potentially contaminated surfaces on outside. For example, the apparel has been designed such that no partner is needed for doffing, while a donning partner is required when putting the coverall on. Some situations call for fast donning, such as new emergency room procedures. In these instances, a donning partner is still required, but can be expedited by (a) ample practice in donning, and (b) preparation of the apparel for fast donning, such as pre-fitting a helmet and leaving the gown open and ready in a convenient location.
Q. Can I wash the disposable encapsulating coveralls?
A. No.
You cannot wash or re-use disposable PPE that is meant for single use. Washing may change its protective or barrier properties and make it less effective. It is important to understand that an encapsulating coverall that has been exposed to infectious materials should be considered contaminated. Remove it promptly and dispose of it properly. Improper removal, reuse, or disposal of contaminated encapsulating coveralls may increase risk of infection.
A. No.
Surgical gowns and Infectious Disease apparel are conceptual and design opposites. A surgical gown aims to prevent a doctor’s dust and germs from reaching a patient, used for example in an orthopedic replacement surgery where a patient has an open hip or shoulder and maintaining a sterile environment minimizes patient infection. Infectious Disease apparel defends the opposite direction: the patient’s germs from reaching the doctor. Different threats require different defenses. A surgical or isolation gown needs stringent manufacturing procedures to achieve sterility. Infectious disease apparel requires a barrier that does not permit passage of infected liquids through it, must protect the mucous membranes (most surgical gowns do not), and aims to minimize self-contamination during doffing of soiled surfaces. The differences can be conceptually summarized using the lock on one's front door: it works well in one direction, but is near useless in the opposite direction.
Q. Can I wear an N95 respirator or face mask under the hood?
A. The encapsulating coverall filters incoming air through a 95% or 99% filter. However, there is plenty of space in the hood for an N95 respirator if the person wants extra filtration. This is a decision for the user and/or hospital administration.
Q. What can I do to speed donning?
A. The gown is optimized for doffing when there are potentially contaminated surfaces on outside. For example, the apparel has been designed such that no partner is needed for doffing, while a donning partner is required when putting the coverall on. Some situations call for fast donning, such as new emergency room procedures. In these instances, a donning partner is still required, but can be expedited by (a) ample practice in donning, and (b) preparation of the apparel for fast donning, such as pre-fitting a helmet and leaving the gown open and ready in a convenient location.
Q. Can I wash the disposable encapsulating coveralls?
A. No.
You cannot wash or re-use disposable PPE that is meant for single use. Washing may change its protective or barrier properties and make it less effective. It is important to understand that an encapsulating coverall that has been exposed to infectious materials should be considered contaminated. Remove it promptly and dispose of it properly. Improper removal, reuse, or disposal of contaminated encapsulating coveralls may increase risk of infection.