Ebola and things you need to know.
We wanted to make sure you were aware of several resources for EMS personnel regarding Ebola planning:
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for Management of Patients with Known or Suspected Ebola Virus Disease in the United States” http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/interim-guidance-emergency-medical-services-systems-911-public-safety-answering-points-management-patients-known-suspected-united-states.html
A number of people have asked MDH about whether PSAPs should do screening of callers. The guidance listed above addresses this issue under the “Key Points” section.
- Because we have received many questions about procedures and products for cleaning and disinfection, we are including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fact sheet on “Cleaning and Decontamination of Ebola on Surfaces” https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA_FS-3756.pdf This fact sheet includes a link to the listing of EPA-Registered Disinfectants
http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/chemregindex.htm ; select List G (Norovirus) for products that are effective against Ebola.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response “Detailed Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Checklist for Ebola Preparedness”
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/pdf/ems-checklist-ebola-preparedness.pdf
We also encourage you to check the CDC and MDH Ebola websites frequently for updated information:
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/
Minnesota Department of Health
Interim EMS Guide Ebola CDC 1114 .docx Download
Oct. 15, 2014 Ebola SITREP 2 PDF Download
Oct. 31, 2014 Ebola Preparedness SITREP #4 PDF Download
Oct. 29, 2014 Ebola Pre-Hospital Preparedness Work Group PDF Download
EMS PPE Resources December 2015