PPE: 'one size fits all' design is a fallacy

摘要

With healthcare workers bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis, it is essential everyone has the right personal protective equipment (PPE) at the right time, with the right fit. Only with the correct fit does PPE work effectively and help keep us safe while we care for our patients. The problem, which we have known for some time, is that PPE is usually designed for the male shape. According to data published by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in 2017, only three in ten women in the UK have PPE designed for the female frame.