Clinical Bulletin
NH EMS Community:
New guidance has been posted by the CDC in regards to Personal Protective Equipment. Please make note of the changes below.
- Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for 2019-nCoV in the United States.
- Summary of Key Changes for the EMS Guidance:
- Updated PPE recommendations for the care of patients with known or suspected COVID-19:
- Facemasks are an acceptable alternative until the supply chain is restored. Respirators should be prioritized for procedures that are likely to generate respiratory aerosols, which would pose the highest exposure risk to HCP.
- Eye protection, gown, and gloves continue to be recommended.
- If there are shortages of gowns, they should be prioritized for aerosol-generating procedures, care activities where splashes and sprays are anticipated, and high-contact patient care activities that provide opportunities for transfer of pathogens to the hands and clothing of HCP.
- When the supply chain is restored, fit-tested EMS clinicians should return to use of respirators for patients with known or suspected COVID-19.
- Updated guidance about recommended EPA-registered disinfectants to include reference to a list now posted on the EPA website.
- Updated PPE recommendations for the care of patients with known or suspected COVID-19:
- Summary of Key Changes for the EMS Guidance:
- Please continue to review the most recent NH DPHS Health Alert Network (HAN) message(s), located: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/alerts/han.htm
- March 11, 2020: 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Outbreak Conference Call # Updated
- March 6, 2020: 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Update #6
- March 2, 2020: 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Update #5
Immediately report any suspect cases to DPHS by calling 603-271-4496 (after hours 603-271-5300).
