Afternoon,

We have 12 residential homes for the elderly and a very large number of residential hostels for homeless people. At the moment we're OK, but we are facing the probability that at some point we may be providing personal care for people with Covid-19. We can't get hold of FFP3s (though there is a possibility on the distant horizon). Does anybody know of a reasonable alternative (not full face RPE!)?

We are getting my team trained as face fit testers, but right now its a bit of a moot point as we have no masks...

Any advice gratefully received,

John

Edited by user 16 March 2020 16:15:10(UTC)  | Reason: i before e except after c

Good Afternoon

FFP2 will provide appropraite protection from SARS, Avian Flu and Coronavirus and meet the guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO). There are many suppliers online which having just checked, have stock and are resonably priced.

Bearing in mind, users must be clean shaven to ensure a good fit, anyone who may have potential contact with the virus should of course follow current adivise particulary around hand washing with soap, use of sanitiser gels & catching coughs / sneezes in tissue paper and disposing accordingly. 

Originally Posted by: jwk

Afternoon,

We have 12 residential homes for the elderly and a very large number of residential hostels for homeless people. At the moment we're OK, but we are facing the probability that at some point we may be providing personal care for people with Covid-19. We can't get hold of FFP3s (though there is a possibility on the distant horizon). Does anybody know of a reasonable alternative (not full face RPE!)?

We are getting my team trained as face fit testers, but right now its a bit of a moot point as we have no masks...

Any advice gratefully received,

John

Frequent hand washing is fine, but only if you then take action to prevent this from causing skin damage due to the defatting action of the soap. Every wash, rinse and drying should be followed by application of a moisturising lotion to replace the lost hydrolipidic film in the surface layers of the skin. Unless this is done the frequent hand washing can actually result in an impaired skin barrier making it easier for transient micro-organisms to colonise the skin and multiply increasing the potential for infection.  The only exception is when occlusive gloves will be donned within 5 to 10 minutes after hand washing. Lotion should be applied sparingly, just enough to coat the skin withou leaving it feeling sticky as too much can encourage hyperhydration of the skin which can also have adverse effects.