Medical Gowns

MEDICAL GOWNS, work clothing for medical personnel. Their purpose, on the one hand, is to protect the worker and their clothing from contamination and infection and thereby prevent the spread of contagion by them, and on the other hand, to shield the patient from the introduction of dirt and infection from the outside. Gowns are made mostly of easily cleaned smooth cotton fabric, usually white. There are two types of gowns—surgical (medical aprons), which fasten in the back, and therapeutic, which fasten in the front and have the appearance of a coat. Whatever the type of gown, it must be spacious, not restrict movement, wrap well, have ties or fasteners on both the skirts and the sleeves, the cuffs of which must fit snugly (but not tightly) against the arm; it is convenient to have several pockets in the gown. Under no circumstances are any decorations on the gown permissible, especially those that violate its integrity (embroidery, lace, etc.), as well as complex folds that are difficult to clean. It is very important to wear the gown correctly, namely, to wrap it well and tie or fasten it (rather than wearing it open), since otherwise its purpose is largely lost. It is necessary for gowns to be clean, and therefore they must be changed as often as possible. In particularly volatile infections, gowns are sometimes made with hoods sewn to the collar, which are put on the head, leaving only the face free.—Gowns for visitors have the same significance and usually the same character as those for medical personnel. At the same time, it is also important that they are put on correctly (obligatorily into the sleeves, and not draped over the shoulders) and wrapped. Visitor gowns must be cleaned after each visitor, if only through disinfection or disinsection. Under no circumstances should the transfer of a gown from one visitor directly to another be permitted.—Gowns for patients serve as their outer clothing and, depending on the season, are made of either light linen or warm woolen fabric. Usually they have the appearance of a long coat or a peasant coat. Patient gowns must be kept as clean as possible, therefore they should be worn by patients only when they are walking or sitting; lying in bed in a gown is not recommended, since gowns are contaminated much more severely in the process. For greater preservation of cleanliness in gowns, especially warm ones, it is desirable to protect the most easily soiled places (collar, sleeves) with attachable linen collars and cuffs. Summer light gowns, as well as the attachable collars and cuffs of warm gowns, must be regularly washed, and warm winter gowns must be shaken or beaten and periodically subjected to disinfection or disinsection. Recently, patient gowns are increasingly being replaced by more convenient hospital suits (of the pajama type).