covid19-facial-ppe

COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)
Staff safety
Facial skin protection fact sheet
This fact sheet is designed to provide guiding information to assist those staff wearing personal protective equipment
(PPE) for prolonged periods to prevent skin irritation and injuries.
Principles
• The wearing of PPE masks and eye protection when caring for COVID-19 patients for prolonged periods can
cause sweating and pressure points in areas where the skin is in contact with PPE (e.g. bridge of the nose,
cheek bones and above the ears).
• Ensure you follow your local facility and departmental guidelines for the use for the use and application of PPE.
• Ensure skin is cleansed and dry before applying facial protection. Use a skin barrier protectant (e.g. 3MTM
CavilonTM) and a dressing (Mepilex®Lite or DouDERM® Extra thin) or tape and a dressing* as an interface
between PPE and the skin to alleviate pressure. Cautiously apply the protectants/dressings to the face and
avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes. See next pages for suggested use.
Further tips
• For staff members allergic to silicone, please use Coloplast Comfeel® Plus Transparent dressing in the same
manner.
• Irritant dermatitis can be caused by prolonged wear of disposable protective rubber gloves - consider using a
barrier hand cream (such as Ego Silic 14) and apply as the last step before donning protective gloves.
* The use of products in this tip sheet is off label.
Important information: using Riskman
It’s important to enter incidents into Riskman if pressure injuries occur.

• To ensure all COVID-19 related incidents and feedback is consistently captured and reported through Riskman,
we ask all reporters to add ‘COVID-19’ in the Incident or Feedback ‘Summary’ data field. In order to best protect
yourselves and your colleagues, incidents and feedback must be properly recorded.
• Please refer to the step by step guidelines (https://qheps.health.qld.gov.au/metronorth/riskman) for details.
• If you have any questions, please speak with your Line Manager.
Acknowledgements
Alves P, Moura A, Vaz A, Ferreira A, Malcato E, Mota F, Afonso G, Ramos P, Dias V, Homem-Silva P. PRPPE Guideline COVID-
19: Prevention of skin lesions caused by personal protection equipment (face masks, respirators, visors and protection glasses.
Portuguese Wound Management Association (APTFeridas). Journal of Tissue Healing and Regeneration. 2020; Education
Supplement, 15 March.
National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) Position statement on preventing injury with N95 masks. NPIAP, 2020.
https://npiap.com/page/PositionStatements
Professor Fiona Coyer, Conjoint appointment with the School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology and Royal Brisbane
and Women’s Hospital (RBWH)l.
Mrs Kerrie Coleman, Nurse Practitioner Complex Wound Management, RBWH.
Mrs Kathy Hocking Acting Clinical Nurse Consultant Skin Integrity Service, RBWH.
Mr Thomas Leong, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Skin Integrity and Wound Management, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW.
Dr Michelle Barakat-Johnson, Skin Integrity Lead, Sydney Local Health District, NSW.
Ms Annabel Levido, Clinical Nurse – Nursing Research, Intensive Care Services, RBWH
V1 Effective: April 2020 Review: As required.

Applying dressing material
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8
3M™ Cavilon™ wipe Mepilex®Lite dressing Follow the template What your final cuts Apply the dressing Apply face mask Apply hair cover
(10cm x 10cm) OR will look like and eye shield
DouDERM®Extra thin.
• Apply to your face • Cut in half. • 1. Fold in half. • Trim the dressing to • Apply the 2 .
where the dressing suit your facial shape triangles to both
will be applied. EITHER • 2 & 3. Cut to create and the pressure cheeks.
two triangles. points of the mask
• Place half back in
• Allow to dry before on your face • Apply the 3rd piece
the plastic dressing
applying the • Trim the large piece (particularly cheeks to the bridge of
pocket. Label with
dressing. to fit your nose. and nose). your nose.
your name and store
in a clean, safe place
for second use.
OR
• Cut in half again and

wrap around each
arm of your eyewear
to protect your ears
V1 Effective: April 2020 Review: As required.

Steps for skin protection using silicone tape
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 6
3M™ Cavilon™ wipe Mepilex®Lite dressing Sofsicure®* or Using tape Apply tape
(10cm x 10cm) Mepitac®* fixation
tape.
• Wash hands and • Cut in half. • Apply Sofsicure®*
• For the cheeks and • Remove from
apply 3M™ or Mepitac®*
under the eyes, use packaging.
Cavilon™ wipe* to • Peel backing. fixation tape to the
Sofsicure®* or
the face where the cheeks, under the
Mepitac®* fixation
dressing will be • Apply Mepilex® Lite tape • With clean hands,
eyes, where the
applied. dressing* for the face mask will be
tear off a piece of tap
bridge of the nose. • These tapes are applied.
(approximately 6 to
• Allow to dry before easy to tear, are
8cm depending on
applying the breathable, conform
face size). • Wash hands.
dressing. to the face and are
designed reduce
pain, shear and
friction and are
gentle on removal.
V1 Effective: April 2020 Review: As required. Page 3 of 3

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COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)

Important information: using Riskman

It’s important to enter incidents into Riskman if pressure injuries occur.

V1 Effective: April 2020 Review: As required.

Applying dressing material

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8

• Cut in half again and

V1 Effective: April 2020 Review: As required.

Steps for skin protection using silicone tape

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 6

V1 Effective: April 2020 Review: As required. Page 3 of 3

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