Protective equipment for vessels calling at Ebola affected countries

Steps to put on and remove PPE

Image Credit: WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has produced guides including steps to put on and remove Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for vessels calling in West Africa’s Ebola affected countries.

Ship managers of vessels calling at ports in the high risk counties are advised to ensure that extrashipboard measures are implemented as follows:

All non-essential crew shore leave should be avoided.
Crew changes through any of the affected countries should be avoided.
Number of visitors at these ports must be limited to the minimum possible.
If a crew member requires medical attention, other than for Ebola, it should be considered whetherit is safe for them to remain on the ship until the next port of call and to seek medical attentionthere.
Seafarers should refrain from eating or drinking any local produce, especially bush meat
Extra precautions regarding good personal hygiene should be exercised on board
Training should be provided to crew regarding EVD, symptoms and transition, preventive measuresand handling of PPE equipment.
Extra security precautions should be implemented during period in port. MARSEC LEVEL 2 or moreto be implemented in Ports in Countries where EVD incidents have occurred
An Ebola Contingency Plan should be developed in order to set up procedures on preventivemeasures and precautions regarding EVD infection in high risk areas and procedures on how tomanage any incident involving EVD symptoms on board

Find further details by reading SQE MARINE Circular on Ebola Outbreak

Steps to PUT ON Personal Protective Equipement

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Always put onessentialrequired PPEwhen handling either a suspected, probable or confirmedcase of viral haemorragic fever
The dressingand undressingof PPE should be supervisedby anothertrained memberof the team
Gather all the necessary items of PPE before hand. Put on the scrub suit in the changing room.
Put on rubber boots. If not available, make sure you have closed, puncture and fluid resistant shoes and put on overshoes.
Place the impermeable gown over the scrubs.
Put on face protection: medical mask and goggles or a face shield
If available,put a headcover onat this time.
Perform hand hygiene
Put on gloves* (over cuff).
If an impermeablegown is notavailable, place waterproofapron overgown.

While wearing PPE:

Avoid touching or adjusting PPE

Remove gloves if they become torn or damaged

Change gloves between patients

Perform hand hygiene before putting on new gloves

Please click at image below to view the guide

Steps to REMOVE Personal Protective Equipement

Remove waterproof apron anddispose of safely. If the apronis to be reused, place it ina container with disinfectant.
If wearing overshoes, remove them withyour gloves still on(If wearing rubberboots, see step 4)
Remove gownand gloves and rollinside-out anddispose of safely.
If wearing rubber boots,remove them (ideally usingthe boot remover) withouttouching them with your hands.Place them in a containerwith disinfectant.
Perform hand hygiene
If wearing a head cover,remove it now (from behind the head).
Remove face protection:
- a Remove face shield or goggles (from behind the head). Place eye protection in a separate container for reprocessing.
- b Remove mask from behind the head. When removing mask, untie the bottom string first and the top string next
Perform hand hygiene.