COVID-19: General PPE Guidance

Updated March 23, 2021

We have the following resources for use in your facility related to COVID-19, for use during PPE shortages. We will continue to update as often as we can as the situation changes, so be sure to refresh your browser. Please give us feedback.

Donning Doffing Reused N95

Proper donning and doffing of an N95 respirator that is being reused.

Developed by Emory Serious Communicable Diseases Program, Emory University Visual Medical Education and NETEC.

Updated November 17, 2020.

Watch the Donning Doffing Reused N95 video

Donning Doffing Reused N95 video screenshot

N95 With Exhalation Valve: Is it Protective Against Viruses?

Is an N95 with a conventional exhalation valve appropriate for providing care of patients or residents of long-term care facilities? How does the exhalation valve work and what are the risks?

Developed by Emory Serious Communicable Diseases Program, Emory University Visual Medical Education and NETEC.

Updated September 8, 2020

Watch the "N95 With Exhalation Valve" Video

N95 With Exhalation Valve: Is it Protective Against Viruses? video screenshot

N95 User Seal Check

When wearing an N95 to care for COVID patients, you need to perform a user seal check EVERYTIME you don your PPE. This video instructs you on how to perform your own user seal check. Your safety depends on it.

User seal checks do NOT replace initial fit testing done by your institution to ensure that your particular piece of equipment fits properly to your specific face shape.

Updated August 31, 2020

Watch the "N95 User Seal Check" video

Face shield trimming

Global Center for Medical Innovation designed face shields to meet the needs of healthcare providers in the COVID-19 pandemic. These instructions and the included template are meant to be printed out and used in conjunction with these specific face shield designs, which have been deployed to some staff members at Emory University. Please check with your supervisor to find out if this applies to your individual face shield. The purpose of these instructions is to remove the part of the face shield which blocks the ears in order to permit the use of stethoscopes.

Read the Face shield trimming PDF
Read about the GA Tech designed face shields

Face shield decon card (PDF)

This card was designed for Emory Healthcare workers to keep in their ID badge case. It depicts the proper steps and guidance for decontaminating face shield for reuse.

Goggle decon card (PDF)

This card was designed for Emory Healthcare workers to keep in their ID badge case. It depicts the proper steps and guidance for decontaminating goggles for reuse.

Exhalation valves (PDF)

Healthcare providers have often worn N95's with exhalation valves to enhance comfort. In the COVID-19 era, these can be a vehicle for transmission from the provider to the patient. This one page education sheet explains more about why this is a concern and what you should use instead.

Create your own PPE figure (1.3MB .pptx PowerPoint file)

If you are in charge of creating PPE signage or communications for your institution, we have created a simple way for you to dress a figure in different pieces of PPE and export for your own use. These are not meant to communicate the complex process of donning and doffing, but should be helpful for a general "here is the level of PPE you should wear".

N95 User Seal Check

When wearing an N95 to care for COVID patients, you need to perform a user seal check EVERYTIME you don your PPE. This flyer instructs you on how to perform your own user seal check. Your safety depends on it. User seal checks do NOT replace initial fit testing done by your institution to ensure that your particular piece of equipment fits properly to your specific face shape. This content is also covered in this video on User Seal Check as well.

Read the N95 User Seal Check (PDF)
Watch the User Seal Check video

Reusable gowns (PDF)

A closer look at the safe use of reusable gowns. This flyer presents one way of doffing a reusable gown with a "buddy", but some of our other flyers depict alternative methods when alone. The key is that you want to minimize the possibility of your own PPE contaminating your clothing or skin. For full donning and doffing instructions, please visit our other pages.

Stethoscope decon (PDF)

Instructions for deep cleaning and for routine decontamination of the stethoscope.

Getting the most from your mask (PDF)

Getting the most out of wearing your mask, for healthcare providers and hospital staff.

Proper reuse of N95 with paper bag (PDF)

It is best to use a fresh N95 for each patient. If you must reuse due to low supplies, and you are storing in a paper bag, this is our process for reducing COVID-19 contamination.

Reusing face shield, eyewear, and N95 (PDF)

These instructions are only meant to be used when supplies are low.

Reusing Face and Eye PPE - Extended Wear (PDF)

Extended wear/Cohort reuse protocol for face and eye protection when supplies are low and the provider is treating only COVID-19 patients. Updated September 18, 2020

Sharing and Disclaimer

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