Embedded Files
This page is a work in progress.
Safety Equipment
Safety Equipment
PROPER USE OF PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) and CAREGIVER PREPARATION FOR PATIENT VISIT
PROPER USE OF PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) and CAREGIVER PREPARATION FOR PATIENT VISIT
1) Before making a visit, ask screening questions including whether or not anyone in the home has a fever, cough or shortness of breath.
2) If no one in the home has symptoms of COVID‐19 you should do the following:
• Wear a fresh set of clothing: Wear an inner and an outer‐layer, changing the outer layer between every patient visit;
• Practice excellent hand hygiene and keep physically separated as much as possible; and,
• Wear a simple mask throughout the visit. (PICK UP YOUR MASKS 206-794-5356)
• Change exterior garments and masks between homes and sanitize shoes. (details below)
3) If anyone in the home is COVID‐19 positive or is symptomatic (fever, cough, shortness of breath),
PICK UP A PPE KIT (206-276-5805)
• follow all of the precautions listed above;
• Wear eye protection, gown and gloves;
• Ask that the symptomatic individual wear a mask while you are in the home (which you can provide), and if the symptomatic person is not your patient, you may want to ask that they stay in a different room throughout your shift.
4) If someone in the home is COVID‐19 positive or is symptomatic and has a breathing treatment that involves the use of a nebulizer, CPAP, BIPAP, Trilogy, or high flow oxygen (6L or more), you should wait at least two hours after the breathing treatment to be in the same room. If an urgent situation requires you to be in the room less than 2 hours since a breathing treatment, you should wear an airtight mask (N-95) PICK UP A N-95 MASK (206-276-5805)
5) If you provide a symptomatic person in your patient’s home with a mask, you should ask that they help you conserve this needed protection and use it only during your visits. You can provide them with a paper bag for them to keep this mask in between your visits.
6) If at all possible, you should ask that the family leave a trash receptacle outside for you to dispose of your personal protective equipment (PPE) after leaving their home. (you will put your clothes in your plastic bag to take to launder)
*** If you wear plastic or rubber shoes (crocs) you can disinfect between visits with a bleach spray. Mix 4 tsp bleach with 1 quart of water. Put on gloves and spray and wipe off, being careful not to accidentally bleach your pants or carpet in car.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/disinfecting-your-home.html
*** adapted from Hospice of the Northwest staff protocol
How to put on and take off Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
How to put on and take off Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
How to put on an ear loop mask (e.g. simple mask)
How to put on an ear loop mask (e.g. simple mask)
1. Clean your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer before touching the mask.
2. Make sure there are no obvious tears or holes in either side of the mask.
3. Determine which side of the mask is the top. The side of the mask that has a stiff bendable edge is the top and is meant to mold to the shape of your nose.
4. Determine which side of the mask is the front. The colored side of the mask is usually the front and should face away from you, while the white side touches your face.
5. Hold the mask by the ear loops. Place a loop around each ear. Mold or pinch the stiff edge to the shape of your nose.
6. Pull the bottom of the mask over your mouth and chin.
7. Do not touch the inner side of the mask.
How to remove a face mask
1. Clean your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer before touching the mask. Only touch the ear loops/ties/band. Follow the instructions below for the type of mask you are using.
2. Face Mask with Straps: Slowly lift the bottom strap from around your neck up and over your head. Then lift off the top strap.
3. Face Mask with Ear loops: Hold both of the ear loops and gently lift and remove the mask.
4. Do not touch the inner side of the mask.
5. Place mask in paper bag between uses during the day. Clean your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer after removing mask. At the end of the day or if mask is damaged or contaminated throw the mask in the trash. Clean your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer.
Using alternative (cloth) face masks
Using alternative (cloth) face masks
WHEN IS IT APPROPRIATE TO WEAR ALTERNATIVE (Cloth) FACE MASKS?
If you’ve made every effort to get FDA approved face masks and you can’t get them.
THE CLOTH MASK HAS TO DO THE FOLLOWING:
• Enclose the area from bridge of nose down to the chin - extend onto the cheek - so that no gaps occur when talking or moving.
• Made of washable material that can handle high heat and bleach and you can breathe through it!
YOU HAVE TO DO THE FOLLOWING:
• Wear a clean cloth mask for each patient.
• Change cloth masks between patients.
• Change cloth mask when saturated from from breathing/when contaminated by “a gross contamination event.” Replace filter every 4 hours
• Remove filter before washing mask with soap/ water and dry 20 min on high heat
• Keep dirty and clean face masks in separate, clearly labeled, containers
• Have patients or family wear mask if they are showing symptoms (or have tested positive).
• Ask that the family (re)use the mask only when you are visiting.
DONNING AND DOFFING PROCEDURE IS THE SAME AS FOR FDA APPROVED MASKS
• Follow CDC protocol for donning/doffing. https://www.cdc.gov/hai/pdfs/ppe/ppe-sequence.pdf
These guidelines are adapted from the Minnesota Department of Health (03/27/20) and Hospice of the Northwest guidelines https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/hcp/masksalt.pdf
Additional resources
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258525804_Testing_the_Efficacy_of_Homemade_Masks_Would_They_Protect_in_an_Influenza_Pandemic
https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/diy-homemade-mask-protect-virus-coronavirus/
How to Sew Face Masks Without a Sewing Machine
How to Sew Face Masks Without a Sewing Machine
SIMPLE and no sewing machine needed!
Washing and Sanitizing
Washing and Sanitizing
How to wash clothes
How to wash clothes
Huffpost published guidelines on how to wash your clothes to kill the virus. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-long-coronavirus-live-clothing-washing_l_5e724927c5b6eab779409e74.
The virus can last for a long time on fabrics.
Use water over 80 degrees F
detergent with bleach is recommended
Read the link for more detail
CDC guidelines for disinfecting your home
CDC guidelines for disinfecting your home
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/disinfecting-your-home.html
End Of Life Planning
End Of Life Planning
Updating Directives
Updating Directives
What a great time to either initiate or update your directives so that your choices are respected. For a robust conversation tool .....
Contact Debra O'Conner (mwifedoc@icloud.com) if you would like a Covid-19 specific directive or referral to a virtual attorney to assist you with these documents.
Organize Essential Information
Organize Essential Information
NO time better than NOW!
Get all of your (and your family's) essential information in order
https://www.joincake.com/blog/coronavirus-resources/
https://www.everplans.com/checklists
Contact Debra O'Conner (mwifedoc@icloud.com) for a directive specific to island living and contact information for a virtual attorney
Other Resources
Other Resources
Washington Department of Health Guidelines for Caregivers
Washington Department of Health Guidelines for Caregivers
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance for Caregivers (PDF: updated 3/18/2020)
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse