4 Types of Protective Surgical Supplies for your Head

Operating Room staff members wear personal protective apparel to prevent themselves from acquiring an infection during a surgical procedure. From head to toe, there are different products and materials that provide protection and comfort.

Protective Gear Options:

• Surgical Caps
• Hoods
• Eye Protection
• Surgical Masks

Material Options:

Surgical Caps

• A paper-like absorbent material called scrim reinforced material

• Multi-layer polypropylene, for fluid resistance balanced with ventilation spun lace, the most absorbent, while still comfortable and soft

Surgical Hoods

• Lint-free, latex-free options lightweight multi-ply and heavy-weight polypropylene

• Lightweight single-ply polypropylene or heavyweight polypropylene material

Eye Protection

• Disposable Face Shields provide maximum eye and face protection. This product has a contoured foam material that wraps across the forehead, and the shield extends down from that foam band to protect the face. The shields typically resist fogging.

• Goggles that protect from fluids are used over normal prescription eyeglasses. These are typically made of soft, vinyl frames with built-in air vents and anti-fog lenses.

• Safety Glasses are usually the most economical choice for eye protection. Most manufacturers make them with a built-in brow bar and side shields with wide view lenses.

Surgical Masks

Procedure: Procedure masks have a few options for materials within this category alone. The basic materials however consist of a tissue material on the inner and outer of the mask, with the potential to opt for a softer cellulose material on the inside as well. Additionally, the polypropylene styles improve fluid resistance for the wearer.

Isolation: Fluid-resistant on the outside, with the comfort of cellulose on the inside, these masks also have a bendable nosepiece to ensure proper fit.

Hypoallergenic: These are helpful for people with sensitive skin. Manufacturers can achieve the hypoallergenic feature by not using any dyes or other colorants in the masks. These masks still are able to provide comfort by lining the inside and outside of the mask with cellulose, and by including a bendable nosepiece for enhanced fit.

Breathing Chamber: The breathing chamber mask looks like a Procedure Mask with the area in front of the mouth tented outward away from the wearer's lips. This keeps the mask off the face for easier breathing and clearer speech. The inner and outer lining could be cellulose, or the outer lining could be polypropylene for added fluid protection.

Cone-Style: Cone-style masks are easy to put on. The elastic-like headband straps over the back of the head, the nosepiece can be pinched by the wearer to ensure a tight fit around the nose, and the mouthpiece extends away from the wearer's mouth to provide easier breathing and speech.

Anti-Fog: Anti-Fog masks work to keep the wearer's eyeglasses from fogging. They accomplish this with a foam strip lining across the top edge of the mask which prevents condensation from escaping up behind the eyeglass lenses. There are Chamber-Style and non-Chamber-Style Anti-Fog masks available on the market.

Fluid-Protective: Manufacturers make "fluid-protective" masks typically with cellulose on the inner and outer linings. They will often incorporate the foam strip at the top edge of the mask to limit condensation from escaping. A full-width nosepiece provides the wearer with a custom fit.

Fluid-Resistant: It's important to clarify here that "Fluid-Resistant" means that it provides better protection against fluids than "Fluid-Protective". Fluid-Resistant masks generally are made of polypropylene on the outside for fluid resistance and cellulose on the inside for comfort while still providing a degree of fluid resistance.

Fluid Resistant/Protective with Eye Shield: Both the Fluid-Resistant and Fluid-Protective style masks can be found with an added eye shield option for enhanced eye and face coverage. The eye shield extends up from the mask and cover the eyes and the forehead to beyond where the surgical cap meets the forehead, thus ensuring no skin exposure in that area of the body. The eye shields are made of non-glare material to maintain optimum visibility, and a foam strip is in place to protect against condensation from rising up from the mask.

By wearing these types of protective supplies, medical staff not only increase their own odds in avoiding infection, they also help protect their patients from the same problem.

For a wide range of surgical supplies, from caps to masks - take a look at Supply Doctor's website and place your order today!