mteb/FeedbackQARetrieval huggingface dataset:
K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs
Administrators
Planning and Responding to COVID-19
If each child has his or her own spacer, can a school’s metered dose inhaler be used by more than one student if the actuator is cleaned before use by another student?
CDC is not aware of data regarding practices to prevent transmission of the
virus that causes COVID-19 or other respiratory viruses, when multiple people
share one asthma inhaler.
Students should be permitted to use their personal inhaler, as needed, to the
extent permitted by state law and school policies. When students need to use
of the school’s stock inhaler, the inhaler should be used and cleaned
according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The American Lung Association’s
Model Policy for School Districts: Stock Bronchodilatorspdf iconexternal
icon recommends using inhalers with disposable
spacers/mouthpieces.
Additional strategies to further minimize cross-contamination include using
spacers with one-way valves and not allowing the student to touch the inhaler
(e.g., the student can touch the spacer, but only the school staff
administering the inhaler can touch the inhaler). Limited data from
healthcare settingspdf iconexternal
icon suggest
wiping all surfaces of an inhaler with an alcohol-based wipe containing at
least 70% alcohol after inhaler use, and then allowing these surfaces to air-
dry can prevent bacterial cross-contamination. CDC is not aware of data on
whether this has helped prevent viral infections or infections in the school
setting.
CDC is not aware of data regarding viral contamination of spacer devices. A
study evaluating the persistence of SARS-CoV-2external
icon (the virus that
causes COVID-19) on plastic, stainless steel, and cardboard surfaces showed
that the virus is able to remain viable for up to 72 hours. The American Lung
Association’s Model Policy for School Districts: Stock Bronchodilatorspdf
iconexternal
icon recommends using inhalers with disposable spacers
or disposable mouthpieces.
School staff who administer asthma medication to students should use good hand
hygiene, including washing hands
with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after administration.
If soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, staff
should use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
People with moderate to severe asthma may be at higher risk of getting very sick from
COVID-19. CDC has more information on COVID-19 for
schools and healthcare
providers
(including school nurses).
CDC has additional information about asthma (non-COVID related) for health
professionals and schools here: https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/info.html
K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs
Teachers
What can teachers do to protect themselves and their students?
Teachers and students are in close contact for much of the day, and schools
can become a place where respiratory diseases like COVID-19 can quickly
spread. Protect yourself and your students by practicing and promoting
healthy habits during the school year. You should also plan to say home
if you have symptoms of COVID-19 like fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
Encourage parents to keep students at home if they’re sick. Consider social
distancing strategies, such as modifying classes where students are likely to
be in very close contact; increasing space between desks; and allowing
students to eat meals in the classroom.
K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs
Administrators
Planning and Responding to COVID-19
What should I include in my emergency operations plan?
Review and update your emergency operations plan in collaboration with your
local health departmentexternal iconexternal
icon. Focus on the
components or annexes of the plans that address infectious disease outbreaks.

Ensure the plan includes strategies to reduce the spread of a wide variety of infectious diseases (e.g., seasonal influenza). This includes strategies for social distancing and school dismissal that may be used to stop or slow the spread of infectious disease. The plan should also include strategies for continuing education, meal programs, and other related services in the event of school dismissal.
Ensure the plan emphasizes everyday preventive actions for students and staff. For example, emphasize actions such as staying home when sick; appropriately covering coughs and sneezes; cleaning frequently touched surfaces; and washing hands often.
K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs
Administrators
Planning and Responding to COVID-19
What should I do if the suspected sick student or staff member is confirmed to have COVID-19?
Immediately notify local health officials. These officials will help
administrators determine a course of action for their child care programs or
schools.
You will likely dismiss students and most staff for 2-5 days. This initial
short-term dismissal allows time for the local health officials to gain a
better understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting the school and for
custodial staff to clean and disinfect the affected facilities. Work with the
local health officials to determine appropriate next steps, including whether
an extended dismissal duration is needed to stop or slow further spread of
COVID-19.
K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs
Administrators
Planning and Responding to COVID-19
How should my school prepare when there is minimal to moderate community transmission in our area?
Work with your local health officials to determine a set of strategies
appropriate for your community’s situation. Continue using the preparedness
strategies implemented for no community transmission, and consider the
following social distancing strategies:

Cancel field trips, assemblies, and other large gatherings.
Cancel or modify classes where students are likely to be in very close contact.
Increase the space between desks to at least 6 feet.
Stagger arrival and/or dismissal times.
Reduce congestion in the health office.
Limit nonessential visitors.
Limit bringing in students from other schools for special programs (e.g., music, robotics, academic clubs)
Teach staff, students, and their families to maintain a safe distance (6 feet) from each other in the school.
K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs
Parents
How should parents talk to children about COVID-19?
As public conversations around COVID-19 increase, children may worry about
themselves, their family, and friends getting ill with COVID-19. Parents play
an important role in helping children make sense of what they hear in a way
that is honest, accurate, and minimizes anxiety or fear. CDC has created
guidance to help adults have conversations with children about
COVID-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease.
K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs
Teachers
How should I talk to my students about COVID-19?
As public conversations around COVID-19 increase, children may worry about
themselves, their family, and friends getting ill with COVID-19. Teachers can
play an important role in helping children make sense of what they hear in a
way that is honest, accurate, and minimizes anxiety or fear. CDC has created
guidance to help adults have conversations with children about
COVID-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease.
K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs
Administrators
Planning and Responding to COVID-19
What should I consider as I plan and prepare for COVID-19?
Administrators should always reinforce healthy practices among their staff and
students, as well as prepare for a potential case of COVID-19, regardless of
the current level of community transmission.
As you create and update your preparedness plans, work with your local health
officials to determine the most appropriate plan and actions for your school
or program. Together, you will need to consider your local community
situation—whether you have local transmission in your community, and if so,
the level of transmission (none/minimal, minimal to moderate, substantial).
CDC has created overall guidance, as well as guidance tailored for
transmission level in your area to help child care programs, schools, and
their partners understand how to help prevent COVID-19 and react quickly when
a case is identified. The guidance includes information about the following:

How to prepare if you have no community spread of COVID-19.
How to prepare if you have minimal to moderate community spread in your community.
How to prepare if you have substantial community spread in your community.
What to do if a person with COVID-19 has entered your school.

See CDC’s full interim guidance for more
details.
K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs
Dismissals
Are there ways for students to keep learning if we decide to dismiss schools?
Yes, consider implementing e-learning plans, including digital and distance
learning options as feasible and appropriate. Determine, in consultation with
school district officials or other relevant state or local partners:

If a waiver is needed for state requirements of a minimum number of in-person instructional hours or school days (seat time) as a condition for funding.
How to convert face-to-face lessons into online lessons and how to train teachers to do so.
How to triage technical issues if faced with limited IT support and staff.
How to encourage appropriate adult supervision while children are using distance learning approaches.
How to deal with the potential lack of students’ access to computers and the internet at home.
K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs
Dismissals
When should I dismiss our school/child care program?
Any decision about school dismissal or cancellation of school events should be
made in coordination with your local health officials. Schools are not
expected to make decisions about dismissals on their own.
You may need to temporarily dismiss school for 2-5 days, if a student or staff
member attended school before being confirmed as having COVID-19. This initial
short-term dismissal allows time for the local health officials to gain a
better understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting the school and for
custodial staff to clean and disinfect the affected facilities. Work with the
local health officials to determine appropriate next steps, including whether
an extended dismissal duration is needed to stop or slow further spread of
COVID-19.
If there is substantial transmission in the local community, local health
officials may suggest extended school dismissalspdf iconpdf
icon (e.g., dismissals for longer than two weeks). This longer-
term, and likely broader-reaching, dismissal strategy is intended to slow
transmission rates of COVID-19 in the community.
K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs
Administrators
Planning and Responding to COVID-19
What can staff and students do to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
Encourage students and staff to take everyday preventive
actions to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses. These
actions include staying home when sick; appropriately covering coughs and
sneezes; cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces; and washing
hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not readily available,
use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash
hands with soap and water if they are visibly dirty. Remember to supervise
young children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent swallowing alcohol.
K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs
Parents
Are children more at-risk?
Information about COVID-19 in
children is somewhat
limited, but the information that is available suggests that children with
confirmed COVID-19 generally had mild symptoms. Person-to-person spread from
or to children, as among adults, is thought to occur mainly via respiratory
droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Recent
studies indicate that people who are infected but do not have symptoms likely
also play a role in the spread of COVID-19.
However, a small percentage of children have been reported to have more severe
illness. People who have serious chronic medical conditions are believed to be
at higher risk. Despite lower risk of serious illness among most children,
children with COVID-19-like symptoms should avoid contact with others who
might be at higher risk, such as older adults and adults with serious chronic
medical conditions.
Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
Gowns
How do I put on (don) and take off (doff) my gown?

Check to see if your facility has guidance on how to don and doff PPE. The procedure to don and doff should be tailored to the specific type of PPE that you have available at your facility.
If your facility does not have specific guidance, the CDC has recommended sequences for donning and doffing of PPE.pdf icon
It is important for Health Care Providers (HCP) to perform hand hygiene before and after removing PPE. Hand hygiene should be performed by using alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60-95% alcohol or washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If hands are visibly soiled, soap and water should be used before returning to alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
Gloves
How do I put on (don) or take off (doff) my gloves?

Check to see if your facility has guidance on how to don and doff PPE. The procedure to don and doff should be tailored to the specific type of PPE that you have available at your facility.
If your facility does not have specific guidance, the CDC has recommended sequences for donning and doffing of PPEpdf icon.
It is important for HCP to perform hand hygiene after removing PPE. Hand hygiene should be performed by using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60-95% alcohol or washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If hands are visibly soiled, soap and water should be used before returning to alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
Respirators
What do I do with an expired respirator?
In times of increased demand and decreased supply, consideration can be made
to use N95 respirators past their intended shelf life. However, the potential
exists that the respirator will not perform to the requirements for which it
was certified. Over time, components such as the strap and nose bridge may
degrade, which can affect the quality of the fit and seal. Prior to use of N95
respirators, the HCP should inspect the respirator and perform a seal check.
Additionally, expired respirators may potentially no longer meet the
certification requirements set by NIOSH. For further guidance, visit Release
of Stockpiled N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators Beyond the Manufacturer-
Designated Shelf Life: Considerations for the COVID-19
Response .
Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
Respirators
How do I know if my respirator is expired?
NIOSH does not require approved N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) be
marked with an expiration date. If an FFR does not have an assigned expiration
date, you should refer to the user instructions or seek guidance from the
specific manufacturer on whether time and storage conditions (such as
temperature or humidity) are expected to have an effect on the respirator’s
performance and if the respirators are nearing the end of their shelf life.
Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
Gowns
What testing and standards should I consider when looking for CDC-recommended protective clothing?

CDC’s guidance for Considerations for Selecting Protective Clothing used in Healthcare for Protection against Microorganisms in Blood and Body Fluids outlines the scientific evidence and information on national and international standards, test methods, and specifications for fluid-resistant and impermeable gowns and coveralls used in healthcare.
Many organizations have published guidelines for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in medical settings. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Association of the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI): ANSI/AAMI PB70:2012pdf iconexternal icon describes the liquid barrier performance and a classification of surgical and isolation gowns for use in health care facilities.
As with any type of PPE, the key to proper selection and use of protective clothing is to understand the hazards and the risk of exposure. Some of the factors important to assessing the risk of exposure in health facilities include source, modes of transmission, pressures and types of contact, and duration and type of tasks to be performed by the user of the PPE. (Technical Information Report (TIR) 11pdf iconexternal icon[AAMI 2005]).
For gowns, it is important to have sufficient overlap of the fabric so that it wraps around the body to cover the back (ensuring that if the wearer squats or sits down, the gown still protects the back area of the body).
Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
Respirators
How can I tell if a respirator is NIOSH-approved?
The NIOSH approval number and approval
label
are key to identifying NIOSH-approved respirators. The NIOSH approval label
can be found on or within the packaging of the respirator or sometimes on the
respirator itself. The required labeling of NIOSH-Approved N95 filtering
facepiece respiratorspdf
icon includes the NIOSH name, the approval number, filter
designations, lot number, and model number to be printed on the respirator.
You can verify that your respirator approvals are valid by checking the NIOSH
Certified Equipment List
(CEL).
Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
Respirators
Should I wear a respirator in public?
Most often,
spread of
respiratory viruses from person-to-person happens among close
contacts
(within 6 feet). Recent studies indicate that people who are infected but do
not have symptoms likely also play a role in the spread of COVID-19. CDC
recommends everyday preventive actions to prevent the spread of respiratory
viruses, such as avoiding people who are sick, avoiding touching your eyes or
nose, and covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue. People who are sick
should stay home and not go into crowded public places or visit people in hospitals.
Workers who are sick should follow CDC guidelines and stay home when they are
sick.
Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
Respirators
My N95 respirator has an exhalation valve, is that okay?
An N95 respirator with an exhalation valve does provide the same level of
protection to the wearer as one that does not have a valve. The presence of an
exhalation valve reduces exhalation resistance, which makes it easier to
breathe (exhale). Some users feel that a respirator with an exhalation valve
keeps the face cooler and reduces moisture build up inside the facepiece.
However, respirators with exhalation valves should not be used in situations
where a sterile field must be maintained (e.g., during an invasive procedure
in an operating or procedure room) because the exhalation valve allows
unfiltered exhaled air to escape into the sterile field.
Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
Respirators
What is a respirator?
A respirator is a personal protective device that is worn on the face or head
and covers at least the nose and mouth. A respirator is used to reduce the
wearer’s risk of inhaling hazardous airborne particles (including infectious
agents), gases or vapors. Respirators, including those intended for use in
healthcare settings, are certified by the CDC/NIOSH.
Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
Respirators
How do I know if a respirator is falsely advertising NIOSH-approval?
When NIOSH becomes aware of counterfeit respirators or those misrepresenting
NIOSH approval on the market, these respirators are posted on the Counterfeit
Respirators / Misrepresentation of NIOSH-
Approval
webpage to alert users, purchasers, and manufacturers.
Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
Respirators
What makes N95 respirators different from facemasks (sometimes called a surgical mask)?

Infographic: Understanding the difference between surgical masks and N95 respiratorspdf icon
N95 respirators reduce the wearer’s exposure to airborne particles, from small particle aerosols to large droplets. N95 respirators are tight-fitting respirators that filter out at least 95% of particles in the air, including large and small particles.
Not everyone is able to wear a respirator due to medical conditions that may be made worse when breathing through a respirator. Before using a respirator or getting fit-tested, workers must have a medical evaluation to make sure that they are able to wear a respirator safely.
Achieving an adequate seal to the face is essential. United States regulations require that workers undergo an annual fit test and conduct a user seal check each time the respirator is used. Workers must pass a fit test to confirm a proper seal before using a respirator in the workplace.
When properly fitted and worn, minimal leakage occurs around edges of the respirator when the user inhales. This means almost all of the air is directed through the filter media.
Unlike NIOSH-approved N95s, facemasks are loose-fitting and provide only barrier protection against droplets, including large respiratory particles. No fit testing or seal check is necessary with facemasks. Most facemasks do not effectively filter small particles from the air and do not prevent leakage around the edge of the mask when the user inhales.
The role of facemasks is for patient source control, to prevent contamination of the surrounding area when a person coughs or sneezes. Patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 should wear a facemask until they are isolated in a hospital or at home. The patient does not need to wear a facemask while isolated.
Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
Respirators
What is an N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR)?
An N95 FFR is a type of respirator which removes particles from the air that
are breathed through it. These respirators filter out at least 95% of very
small (0.3 micron) particles. N95 FFRs are capable of filtering out all types
of particles, including bacteria and viruses.
Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
Respirators
What methods should healthcare facilities consider in order to avoid unintentional loss of PPE during COVID-19?
Monitoring PPE supply inventory and maintaining control over PPE supplies may
help prevent unintentional product losses that may occur due to theft, damage,
or accidental loss. Inventory systems should be employed to track daily usage
and identify areas of higher than expected use. This information can be used
to implement additional conservation strategies tailored to specific patient
care areas such as hospital units or outpatient facilities. Inventory tracking
within a health system may also assist in confirming PPE deliveries and
optimizing distribution of PPE supplies to specific facilities.
Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
Gloves
What standards should be considered when choosing gloves?

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)external icon has developed standards for patient examination gloves.
Standard specifications for nitrile gloves, natural rubber gloves, and polychloroprene gloves indicate higher minimum tensile strength and elongation requirements compared to vinyl gloves.1,2,3,4
The ASTM has developed standards for patient examination gloves. Length requirements for patient exam gloves must be a minimum of 220mm-230mm depending on glove size and material type.1,2,3,4