Patient Safety Sentinel: Sequence for Removing Full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Sequence for Removing Full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Includes Gloves, Gown, Mask or Respirator, & Face shield.

Except for respirator, remove PPE at doorway or in anteroom. Remove respirator after leaving patient room and closing door.

1. GLOVES

  • Outside of gloves is contaminated!
  • Grasp outside of glove with opposite gloved hand; peel off
  • Hold removed glove in gloved hand
  • Slide fingers of ungloved hand under remaining glove at wrist
  • Peel glove off over first glove
  • Discard gloves in waste container

2. GOGGLES OR FACE SHIELD

  • Outside of goggles or face shield is contaminated!
  • To remove, handle by head band or ear pieces
  • Place in designated receptacle for reprocessing or in waste container

3. GOWN

  • Gown front and sleeves are contaminated
  • Unfasten ties
  • Pull away from neck and shoulders, touching inside of gown only
  • Turn gown inside out
  • Fold or roll into a bundle and discard

4. MASK OR RESPIRATOR

  • Front of mask/respirator is contaminated — DO NOT TOUCH!
  • Grasp bottom, then top ties or elastics and remove
  • Discard in waste container


Protecting our patients is the top priority at Cooper University Health Care. We need 100 percent compliance with all patient safety procedures.

A sentinel is one who stands guard or watch to protect others. We need all employees to be sentinels to protect our patients and keep watch to ensure all patient safety procedures are being strictly followed.

One Team. One Purpose.