COVID-19: experiences of roadside logistics from a UK air ambulance service

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 263-268
Author(s):  
Stian Mohrsen
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Ambulance Service ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Clinical Approach ◽  
Air Ambulances ◽  
Air Ambulance ◽  
Mode Of Operation

The COVID-19 pandemic is so widespread that any patient in the prehospital environment is considered a significant transmission risk. UK charity air ambulances are affected by challenges regarding air equipment decontamination, staff redeployment and acquisition of personal protective equipment. This has led services to change their mode of operation and contribute to other areas of healthcare that have sprung up in response to the pandemic. Implementing adapted processes and assuming a clear clinical approach can help prevent transmission and uphold service integrity.

scholarly journals Which Personal Protective Equipment Should I Use while Caring for Children Attending the ED? Paediatric Emergency Procedures in the COVID-19 Era and Beyond

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Craig ◽  
Julia Clark ◽  
Mike Starr ◽  
Joanne Grindlay ◽  
Andrew Tagg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Emergency Physicians ◽  
Emergency Procedures ◽  
Community Transmission ◽  
Infectious Disease Specialists

Abstract ObjectivesTo determine recommendations for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) based on transmission risk for paediatric procedures in the Emergency Department during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsTwo survey rounds were conducted in April-May 2020. The survey presented a number of emergency medicine procedures relevant to the care of children, and asked respondents to provide PPE recommendations according to levels of community transmission, and whether or not the child had symptoms of acute respiratory illness. ResultsParticipants were recruited by approaching relevant professional groups, with 15 from the PREDICT network and 12 from the Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases (ASID) Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ANZPID) Group. Airborne PPE is recommended for resuscitative procedures and various respiratory procedures in most situations There were differences in opinion between emergency and paediatric infectious disease specialists with regards to most appropriate PPE for children without symptoms of COVID-19 in a setting of low community transmission, and for procedures involving the head, neck or airway. In general, emergency physicians were more likely to favour airborne PPE than infectious disease specialists. In the setting of high community transmission, there was a stronger tendency to recommend at least droplet precautions for most procedures – regardless of whether or not the child had symptoms. ConclusionsDifferences in PPE recommendations for various paediatric procedures between infectious disease specialists and emergency physicians were identified. Further research is urgently needed to clarify and quantify risks for many common interventions and determine strategies for multidisciplinary consensus regarding future recommendations.

scholarly journals Impact of an e-learning module on personal protective equipment knowledge in student paramedics: a randomized controlled trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Suppan ◽  
Loric Stuby ◽  
Birgit Gartner ◽  
Robert Larribau ◽  
Anne Iten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Ambulance Service ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Learning Group ◽  
Learning Module ◽  
E Learning ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Prehospital professionals such as emergency physicians or paramedics must be able to choose and adequately don and doff personal protective equipment (PPE) in order to avoid COVID-19 infection. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of a gamified e-learning module on adequacy of PPE in student paramedics. Methods This was a web-based, randomized 1:1, parallel-group, triple-blind controlled trial. Student paramedics from three Swiss schools were invited to participate. They were informed they would be presented with both an e-learning module and an abridged version of the current regional prehospital COVID-19 guidelines, albeit not in which order. After a set of 22 questions designed to assess baseline knowledge, the control group was shown the guidelines before answering a set of 14 post-intervention questions. The e-learning group was shown the gamified e-learning module right after the guidelines, and before answering post-intervention questions. The primary outcome was the difference in the percentage of adequate choices of PPE before and after the intervention. Results The participation rate was of 71% (98/138). A total of 90 answer sets was analyzed. Adequate choice of PPE increased significantly both in the control (50% [33;83] vs 25% [25;50], P = .013) and in the e-learning group (67% [50;83] vs 25% [25;50], P = .001) following the intervention. Though the median of the difference was higher in the e-learning group, there was no statistically significant superiority over the control (33% [0;58] vs 17% [− 17;42], P = .087). The e-learning module was of greatest benefit in the subgroup of student paramedics who were actively working in an ambulance company (42% [8;58] vs 25% [− 17;42], P = 0.021). There was no significant effect in student paramedics who were not actively working in an ambulance service (0% [− 25;33] vs 17% [− 8;50], P = .584). Conclusions The use of a gamified e-learning module increases the rate of adequate choice of PPE only among student paramedics actively working in an ambulance service. In this subgroup, combining this teaching modality with other interventions might help spare PPE and efficiently protect against COVID-19 infection.

scholarly journals Protocol for Reducing COVID-19 Transmission Risk in EEG Research

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron M. Simmons ◽  
Steven J. Luck
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Noninvasive Method ◽  
Laboratory Personnel ◽  
Research Participants ◽  
Eeg Recordings ◽  
Electroencephalogram Eeg

Abstract Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings provide a valuable, noninvasive method for measuring human brain activity. This protocol modifies our general protocol for EEG recording (Farrens et al., 2019) for use during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was created with the help of numerous experts, and it specifies a clear set of steps for interacting with research participants, using personal protective equipment (PPE), and disinfecting equipment, all with the goal of reducing the COVID-19 risks for both laboratory personnel and participants. It focuses on the use of EEG in relatively simple research studies of adults who can easily understand and follow instructions, yet can be readily adapted for studies using other types of EEG experiments or other participant populations.

scholarly journals Protocol for Reducing COVID-19 Transmission Risk in EEG Research

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron M. Simmons ◽  
Steven J. Luck
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Noninvasive Method ◽  
Laboratory Personnel ◽  
Research Participants ◽  
Eeg Recordings ◽  
Electroencephalogram Eeg

Abstract Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings provide a valuable, noninvasive method for measuring human brain activity. This protocol modifies our general protocol for EEG recording (Farrens et al., 2019) for use during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was created with the help of numerous experts, and it specifies a clear set of steps for interacting with research participants, using personal protective equipment (PPE), and disinfecting equipment, all with the goal of reducing the COVID-19 risks for both laboratory personnel and participants. It focuses on the use of EEG in relatively simple research studies of adults who can easily understand and follow instructions, yet can be readily adapted for studies using other types of EEG experiments or other participant populations.

Impact of COVID-19 on Nuclear Medicine in Germany, Austria and Switzerland: An International Survey in April 2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (04) ◽  
pp. 294-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lutz S. Freudenberg ◽  
Ulf Dittmer ◽  
Ken Herrmann
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Medicine ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Diagnostic Procedures ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Current Crisis ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Public Versus Private ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction Preparations of health systems to accommodate large number of severely ill COVID-19 patients in March/April 2020 has a significant impact on nuclear medicine departments. Materials and Methods A web-based questionnaire was designed to differentiate the impact of the pandemic on inpatient and outpatient nuclear medicine operations and on public versus private health systems, respectively. Questions were addressing the following issues: impact on nuclear medicine diagnostics and therapy, use of recommendations, personal protective equipment, and organizational adaptations. The survey was available for 6 days and closed on April 20, 2020. Results 113 complete responses were recorded. Nearly all participants (97 %) report a decline of nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures. The mean reduction in the last three weeks for PET/CT, scintigraphies of bone, myocardium, lung thyroid, sentinel lymph-node are –14.4 %, –47.2 %, –47.5 %, –40.7 %, –58.4 %, and –25.2 % respectively. Furthermore, 76 % of the participants report a reduction in therapies especially for benign thyroid disease (-41.8 %) and radiosynoviorthesis (–53.8 %) while tumor therapies remained mainly stable. 48 % of the participants report a shortage of personal protective equipment. Conclusions Nuclear medicine services are notably reduced 3 weeks after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic reached Germany, Austria and Switzerland on a large scale. We must be aware that the current crisis will also have a significant economic impact on the healthcare system. As the survey cannot adapt to daily dynamic changes in priorities, it serves as a first snapshot requiring follow-up studies and comparisons with other countries and regions.

Infectious safety of nursing staff in departments (offices) functional diagnostics in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
pp. 30-33
Author(s):  
E. V. Panina ◽  
M. V. Pugachev ◽  
A. G. Shchesiu
Keyword(s):  
Medical Care ◽  
Nursing Staff ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Medical Waste ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Functional Diagnostics ◽  
Prevention Of Infections ◽  
Epidemiological Situation

The article shows that in the daily activities of nursing staff of functional diagnostics departments (offices), it is necessary to strictly observe the requirements and rules for the prevention of infections associated with medical care, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The types of personal protective equipment (PPE) of medical personnel (MP), as well as current effective methods of disinfection, rules for collecting medical waste in a complex epidemiological situation are presented.

Recomendações de equipamentos de proteção individual no combate ao COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (31) ◽  
pp. 87-95
Author(s):  
Nicole Maria Miyamoto Bettini ◽  
Fabiana Tomé Ramos ◽  
Priscila Masquetto Vieira de Almeida
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Personnel ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
World Health ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Effective Strategy ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

A Organização Mundial da Saúde - OMS confirmou a circulação internacional do novo Coronavírus em janeiro de 2020, nomeando-o como COVID-19 e, declarando uma pandemia. É de extrema importância que durante a pandemia, os profissionais de saúde tenham acesso e conhecimento sobre o uso correto dos Equipamentos de Proteção Individual (EPIs) e suas indicações, tomando assim, as devidas precauções na prevenção de infecções. O presente estudo buscou identificar a padronização mundial quanto ao uso dos EPIs utilizados no atendimento a pacientes suspeitos e/ou confirmados de COVID-19 no Brasil, EUA, China, Espanha, Itália e demais países europeus. Os guidelines apresentam a padronização quanto ao uso dos EPIs utilizados no atendimento a suspeitos e/ou confirmados de COVID-19, indo ao encontro das recomendações fornecidas pela OMS. Até o momento, o uso de EPIs é sem dúvida a estratégia mais importante e eficaz para proteger os profissionais de saúde durante a assistência ao paciente com COVID-19.Descritores: Infecções por Coronavírus, Equipamento de Proteção Individual, Pessoal de Saúde, Enfermagem. Recommendations for personal protective equipment to combat COVID-19Abstract: The World Health Organization - WHO confirmed the international circulation of the new Coronavirus in January 2020, naming it as COVID-19 and declaring a pandemic. It is extremely important that during the pandemic, health professionals have access and knowledge about the correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and its indications, thus taking appropriate precautions to prevent infections. The present study sought to identify the worldwide standardization regarding the use of PPE utilized to take care of suspected and confirmed patients with COVID-19 in Brazil, USA, China, Spain, Italy and other European countries. The guidelines present a standardization regarding the use of PPE utilized to take care of suspected and confirmed with COVID-19, in line with the recommendations provided by WHO. To date, the use of PPE is undoubtedly the most important and effective strategy to protect healthcare professionals during care for patients with COVID-19.Descriptors: Coronavirus Infections, Personal Protective Equipment, Health Personnel, Nursing. Recomendaciones para el equipo de protección personal para combatir COVID-19Resumen: La Organización Mundial de la Salud - La OMS confirmó la circulación internacional del nuevo Coronavirus en enero de 2020, nombrándolo COVID-19 y declarando una pandemia. Es extremadamente importante que durante la pandemia, los profesionales de la salud tengan acceso y conocimiento sobre el uso correcto del Equipo de Protección Personal (EPP) y sus indicaciones, tomando así las precauciones adecuadas para prevenir infecciones. El presente estudio buscó identificar la estandarización mundial con respecto al uso de EPP utilizado para atender a pacientes sospechosos y/o confirmados con COVID-19 en Brasil, Estados Unidos, China, España, Italia y otros países europeos. Las pautas presentan la estandarización con respecto al uso de EPP utilizado para cuidar COVID-19 sospechoso y/o confirmado, de acuerdo con las recomendaciones proporcionadas por la OMS. Hasta la fecha, el uso de EPP es, sin duda, la estrategia más importante y efectiva para proteger a los profesionales de la salud durante la atención de pacientes con COVID-19.Descriptores: Infecciones por Coronavirus, Equipo de Protección Personal, Personal de Salud, Enfermería.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document