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  • #42617
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    My notes from the January symposium indicate that camp health centers should have a supply of appropriate PPE for the nurses to use in case a camper or staff member becomes symptomatic and needs to be isolated. To me, that includes surgical face masks with ties or properly fitted N95 masks. My camp’s director is having trouble finding a distributor of “real” surgical masks (with ties). She thinks that the camp nurses (all volunteers) can provide their own PPE if they think they need something more than procedure masks with ear loops. I think that the camp should be providing masks to be used to protect the nurses from possible contagion from isolated campers and staff members.

    So I have 2 questions:

    1. Did I correctly interpret the information about PPE that was discussed at the Symposium? And if so, did the guidance change since January?

    2. Does anyone have a suggestion for where to purchase surgical face masks (with ties)? Our camp is located in southwest Pennsylvania?

    Kathy Gaberson

    #42618
    Mary Marugg
    Member

    Kathleen,

    You can find surgical face masks (with ties) at BoundTree. (https://www.boundtree.com/) As an ACN member you can set up an account with BoundTree for a discount, as well as free shipping. Details on who to contact at BoundTree are in the Member Center. Scroll to the blue folders, and just click on BoundTree.

    I’ll look back at my Symposium notes as well.

    Best!

    #42639
    Matthew Hecht
    Participant

    Hi Kathleen,

    I did not catch that ties are more effective than those with loops, but after reading up, you’re correct, they generally fit better!

    I couldn’t find any information stating that ear loops are ineffective though, so I am not sure how this would play out. Essentially, you are asking if it would be an OSHA violation to only provide ‘loop’ masks and I can’t speak to that.

    Generally, however, the employer is required to provide appropriate protective equipment for the job assigned. This is an OSHA requirement and predates COVID. But since there doesn’t seem to be data stating that loop masks are ineffective, this may not be a violation and the Director may be correct. Either way, my advice: if you’re not comfortable with performing the task with the equipment you have, do not proceed until you are.

    #42642
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Mary and Matthew,

    Thank you for your replies and information.

    I called Rini Harris at BoundTree. They do not have surgical masks with ties. She said that they have one mask with ties and attached face shield (which would be fine), but it is currently not in stock. She is going to check some other options and get back to me.

    I’m an OR nurse, so masks are something that I know a lot about. Surgical masks with ties fit closer to the sides of the face. Their construction is also are approved for protection of health care personnel; other face coverings (procedure masks with ear loops or homemade masks) are meant to protect others, not the wearer. My understanding of OSHA, NIOSH, and CDC recommendations is that in the event that nurses would be caring for someone with symptoms suggestive of COVID infection, the nurses should be provided with the appropriate level of PPE, which would be either a surgical mask with ties or a properly fit-tested N95 respirator. Our problem is that we have a number of volunteer nurses staffing our health center, each for a week or part of a week, and not all of them have been fit-tested, so we don’t know what sizes of N95 respirators to order for them. That’s why we are trying to find a source of surgical masks with ties.

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