When should N95 Bird Flu Respirators
or N95 Bird Flu Respirators be used?
Bird Flu Respirators and Bird Flu respirators
are components of a number of infection control
measures intended to protect consumers, and
prevent the spread of the Bird Flu.
These include general hygiene measures set out
in local infection control manuals or Bird Flu
policies, and in particular efficient hand
hygiene before and after contact with possible
or probable cases of the Bird Flu, and with the
patient€™s environment.
Safety
Gloves, safety goggles, safety visors, safety
gowns and/or safety aprons are
also used (see the relevant sections of the web
site that deals with personal protective
equipment in primary and secondary care and
local Bird Flu policies).
Consumers should use N95 Bird Flu Respirators,
correctly fitted, for contact with possible or
probable cases of Bird Flu. A Bird Flu
Respirator should be used only if a Bird Flu
respirator is not available on the grounds that,
although not recommended, it is better to wear a
Bird Flu Respirator than no protection & Patients
should use a Bird Flu Respirator while
symptomatic whether in hospital, at home or in
transit. Airplane Passengers and those consumers
traveling by plane, boat, commuter train, or bus
should also protect themselves from the Bird Flu
Virus by wearing a N95 Bird Flu Respirator at
all times.
Who should wear a Bird Flu Respirator or
Bird Flu Respirator?
All consumers wto contact with a possible or
probable case of Bird Flu should wear a
respirator conforming to at least EN149:2001
FFP3. If a respirator is not immediately
available, the next highest category of
Respirator available should be worn (FFP2
(N95)). Consumers and Healthcare workers
including community primary care teams, hospital
clinical teams, ambulance staff,
physiotherapists and other professional support
staff, porters and domestic staff should all us
Flu Respirators.
Hospital Patients with possible or probable Bird
Flu Virus should wear a surgical face
Respirator, if able to do so, when in close
contact with uninfected persons. Wearing a Bird
Flu Respirator or Bird Flu respirator is not a
guarantee of protection against the Bird Flu
Virus.
Are N95 Bird Flu Respirators available €“ are
these equivalent to FFP3?
No, N95 Bird Flu Respirators are equivalent to
FFP2, not FFP3. Having a supply of N95
Respirators in your health care facility already
should not be viewed as obviating the need to
obtain a supply of FFP3 face Respirators for use
in connection with Bird Flu.
What is the correct way to use a Bird Flu
Respirator?
User instructions are usually supplied with
every Bird Flu Respirator order. If Bird Flu
Respirators are individually packed, the
instructions are on the packaging. If the Bird
Flu Respirators are supplied in shelf packs,
i.e. several unwrapped respirators in one box,
the instructions are either on the side of the
box or on a loose insert. If the contents of the
shelf box are split, a photocopy of the
instructions should accompany each Bird Flu
Respirator.
PLEASE READ THESE BIRD FLU SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.
It is also important that the Bird Flu
Respirator is protected from damage during
transit. It is important to follow the
instructions carefully, and to do a Bird Flu
Respirator fit check each time a new respirator
is worn. These fit checks outlined in the user
instructions vary according to the design of the
Bird Flu Respirator. Fit is critically
important. The Bird Flu Respirator must seal
tightly to the face or air will enter from the
sides. A good fit can only be achieved if the
area where the respirator seals against the skin
is clean-shaven. Beards, long moustaches, and
stubble may cause leaks around the respirator.
If
breathing becomes difficult, the Bird Flu
Respirator becomes damaged or distorted or
contaminated by body fluids, or if a proper face
fit cannot be maintained, go to a safe area and
change the Bird Flu Respirator immediately.
The Bird Flu Respirator is one component of a
number of infection control precautions. These
include hand hygiene, gloves, goggles, visors,
gowns or gown and apron. Protective equipment
should be removed in the following order: safety
gown or safety apron, Bird Flu Respirator,
safety goggles, followed by safety gloves or
hand hygiene. |
The
Bird Flu Respirator should only be removed in a
safe area, away from any contaminated areas.
After the Bird Flu protective equipment has been
successfully removed it is particularly
important to ensure that hands are washed
thoroughly.
Does a beard or stubble affect the performance
of a Bird Flu Respirator?
Yes. See €˜What is the correct way to use a Bird
Flu Respirator?€™
How do I ensure that the Bird Flu Respirator
fits correctly?
It essential that you are familiar with the
instructions that are supplied with the Bird Flu
Respirator, as it will only offer protection if
fitted correctly. Every user should be trained
in the use, maintenance and care of the Bird Flu
Respirator. The Bird Flu Respirator should move
in and out with the breaths if it is fitted
correctly and there are no air leaks from the
sides.
How often should Bird Flu Respirator be
changed?
Bird Flu Respirator are effective for
approximately 8 hours. Bird Flu Respirator used
in close contact with a possible or probable
Bird Flu case should be disposed of immediately
after use; they should not be re-used. They
should only be removed when the wearer is in a
safe area, outside any contaminated areas.
What is the correct way to use a Bird Flu
Respirator?
The Bird Flu Respirator should fit snugly over
the face, with the colored side out and the
metal strip at the top. Position the strings to
keep the Respirator firmly in place over the
nose, mouth and chin. Mould the metallic strip
to the bridge of the nose. Do not touch the
Respirator again until it is removed. Consumers
should discard the Bird Flu Respirator as
clinical waste according to local policy.
Patients should place the Bird Flu Respirator in
a plastic bag, then into domestic waste, then
wash hands. Go to a safe area and replace the
Bird Flu Respirator at once, if it is damaged or
soiled.
Follow local infection control or Bird Flu
policies, because the Bird Flu Respirator is
just one of several infection control
precautions. Hand hygiene is particularly
important after removing the Bird Flu
Respirator.
How often should Bird Flu Respirator be changed?
Bird Flu Respirator or Bird Flu Respirators used
in close contact with a possible or probable
Bird Flu case should be disposed of immediately
after use. They should only be removed when the
wearer is in a safe area, outside the patient€™s
room.
The
length of time a patient on home isolation
should wear a Bird Flu Respirator before
changing it depends on the quality of the
Respirator, and how much the patient is
coughing. As a guide, the Bird Flu Respirator
should be changed after eight hours, or sooner
if it becomes saturated or breathing is
difficult.
How should Bird Flu Respirator and Bird Flu
Respirators disposed of?
Consumers should dispose of Bird Flu
Respirator and Bird Flu Respirators as clinical
waste, according to local infection control
policy. Patients on home isolation should place
the used Respirator in a plastic bag, and then
into domestic waste. It is important to wash
hands after handling the Bird Flu Respirator and
Bird Flu Respirators. This includes touching
the Bird Flu Respirator and Bird Flu Respirators
while it is still being worn.
Which Bird Flu Respirator and Bird Flu
Respirators should be worn in the
community/primary care?
All consumers who come into contact with a
possible or probable case of Bird Flu should
wear a Bird Flu Respirators conforming to at
least EN149:2001 FFP3. If a respirator is not
immediately available, the next highest category
of Respirator available should be worn (FFP2
(N95)). See €˜Who should wear a Respirator or
respirator?€™
Where can community/primary care staff
get Bird Flu Respirator and Bird Flu
Respirators?
Sentry Safety Supply can ship your Bird Flu
Respirator and Bird Flu Respirators the same day
you place your order. Sentry Safety Supply
can supply large and small orders of Bird
Flu Respirator and Bird Flu Respirators. |