Activity: Label the Scrubbed NHS Worker

An activity sheet where students label an NHS frontline worker wearing PPE in two different scenarios. They have to explain why the item is being worn (who does it benefit and how?).

PPE stands for ‘protective personal equipment’ and includes all the key features labelled on the two diagrams. It is worn by NHS staff to protect themselves, and their patients, from any infection. This infection could come from blood, body fluids or from microbiological contamination. It protects patients from cross infection as the PPE is single use - it is to be used by one member of staff (not shared between them or reused) for one patient. Some items can be reused after sterilisation (e.g. gowns).

We refer to people being ‘scrubbed in’ because it comes from when healthcare professionals thorough wash (i.e. scrub) their hands and forearms before starting operations on patients to reduce the spread of infection. This term has expanded as we now call the tops and trousers worn in healthcare environments, but particularly surgical environments, as ‘scrubs’.

I have used this activity not only as a way for students to identify the PPE items and discuss what it does, but also to start to consider the comfort/discomfort level of the healthcare professionals wearing it.