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Kent County takes aim at growing trend: PPE litter

Posted at 8:01 PM, Apr 01, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-01 20:01:43-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — The Kent County Health Department has a few words for people struggling to find a place to discard their used rubber gloves.

Along with a picture of gloves discarded into a shopping cart at a West Michigan store, the KCHD asked the public to properly dispose of any PPE used, suggesting a little better behavior as this pandemic persists.

"Let's give each other a little grace and look out for one another by properly using and disposing of our PPE." They suggest.

Aside from being rude to the next person to come along needing a cart or walking in an area, the growing trend is pretty gross and has the potential to cross-contaminate whatever the trash ends up laying on.

The KCHD suggests following the CDC guidelines for using PPE and reminded their Facebook followers that if you touch something contaminated, then touch something else, (like a phone.car keys, or the shopping cart in the picture) that item now needs to be sanitized.

The best way to protect against contracting COVID-19 is to wash your hands with warm water and soap, practice social distancing, sanitize shared spaces, and stay home if you are sick. Even if it's not COVID-19, your immune system is compromised while you fight off other illnesses.

If you feel the need to use gloves, please throw them in the trash when you're done with them.