Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Personal Protective Equipment Preservation Best Practices

FEMA • April 15, 2020
A poster showing how to reduce reuse and repurpose ppe
This guidance summarizes best practices for national implementation to sustain personal protective equipment (PPE) while ensuring the protection workers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic response.

Objective
The objective of the COVID-19 National Strategy for Addressing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Shortage is to
ensure protection against COVID-19 for healthcare workers, first responders, and patients by implementing three
pillars of practice: reduce – reuse – repurpose. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic response and associated PPE
shortages, implementation of contingency and crisis capacity plans may be necessary to ensure continued
availability of protective gear.

and crisis capacity strategies for optimizing PPE. All U.S. healthcare facilities should begin using PPE contingency
strategies now and may need to consider crisis capacity strategies if experiencing PPE shortages.

What Do I Do and How Do I Do it?
  1.  Reduce Usage Rate of PPE by Modifying Normal Operations and Procedures
    •  Limit the need for PPE by maximizing use of barrier controls whenever possible (e.g. masking patients,
    • Plexiglas barriers, car windows and improved ventilation systems).
    • Place IV towers and ventilators outside of patient rooms, as clinically appropriate, to enable appropriate monitoring and management without donning of PPE.
    • Automate delivery of food and supplies.Use tele-consultation, internet-based interviews, or remote camera-based observation, as available.
    • Limit visitor access and offer technology-enabled alternatives (e.g., video chat).
    • Understand PPE requirements and burn-rates - cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe- strategy/burncalculator.html
    • Consider extending use-times of undamaged, non-visibly soiled PPE beyond single patient contact and other standard practice durations.
    • Note: OSHA has relaxed enforcement of annual fit-testing requirements for N-95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) - osha.gov/news/newsreleases/national/03142020.
  2. Reuse PPE by Implementing Optimization, Decontamination, and Reuse Procedures
  3.  Repurpose Alternative Types or Sources of PPE
    • Use alternative NIOSH-approved respirators in lieu of N-95 FFR for activities for which respiratory protection is required. See fda.gov/media/135763/download. Examples include:
      • powered, air-purifying respirators (PAPRs);
      • reusable air-purifying respirators (elastomeric half and full facepiece respirators);
      • other disposable air-purifying particulate FFRs.
    • Contingency - Seek alternative supplies of PPE.
      • Encourage community members to donate private stocks of unused/unopened surgical masks, gloves, gowns, and N-95 respirators to your facility.
      • Seek PPE and other equipment from dentist offices, veterinarians, individuals, and other sources, including business that are not active.
      • Use commercial sources of industrial Tyvek coveralls, face shields, goggles, shoe covers, etc.
    • Crisis - Use N-95 FFRs beyond their expirations dates if certain conditions are met
    • Crisis - Use FDA authorized imported, non-NIOSH-approved disposable FFRs.
Implementation
Organizations need to assemble a team to carefully review existing Health and Safety Plan (HASP) and Respiratory
Protection Plan (RPP) policies and procedures for opportunities to reduce, reuse, or repurpose and should develop
contingency and crisis operational plans. Such a team might include (where available) environmental health officers,
safety officers, industrial hygienists, logistics officers, infection prevention practitioners, operations chiefs, medical
officers, and work-force representatives.

To ensure uniform application of modified practices, processes and procedures, and, concurrently, the safety of
workers, all workers must be trained in the plans, with recommended elements of such training including:
  •  The rationale for changes, contingency and crisis standards during COVID-19 related PPEshortages
  •  New PPE guidance (FDA, CDC, DOJ) related to COVID-19
  • Proper methods to conduct new or changed work practices (e.g., staffing, social distancing)
  •  Methods to install or utilize any barrier controls (e.g. patient masking, Plexiglas shields)
  • Proper donning and doffing of PPE to minimize self-infection
  • Proper hand hygiene

ETCOG to Host NIMs 300/400 Class Now Required Under HB 33

By ETCOG Public Safety • July 27, 2026
ETCOG is hosting NIMS ICS 300 and ICS 400 training in August at our Kilgore office. These courses are now required under Texas House Bill 33. Please register as soon as possible. The class must have at least 26 participants, or it may be canceled. Please also forward this opportunity to anyone who may need or be interested in attending. Training Details Course: MGT904 / ICS-300 Dates: August 24–26, 2026 Start Time: August 24 at 8:00 a.m. CST Location: ETCOG 3800 Stone Road Kilgore, Texas 75662 Registration Link: https://my.teex.org/TeexPortal/Default.aspx?MO=mCourseCatalog&D=FP&C=MGT904&S=941 Course: MGT905 / ICS-400 Dates: August 26–27, 2026 Start Time: August 26 at 1:00 p.m. CST Location: ETCOG 3800 Stone Road Kilgore, Texas 75662 Registration Link: https://my.teex.org/TeexPortal/Default.aspx?MO=mCourseCatalog&D=FP&C=MGT905&S=732 Cost All online classes, including the ICS 300/400 classes hosted at ETCOG, are free. Prerequisites Please read this section carefully before registering. The following four prerequisite courses are required: ICS 100 ICS 200 ICS 700 ICS 800 FEMA online training link for prerequisites: Emergency Management Institute - National Incident Management System (NIMS) https://training.fema.gov/nims/ Please bring copies of your prerequisite certificates with you to class, if possible. A screenshot of your certificates is also acceptable. What to Bring Please bring the following items to training: Copies or screenshots of your ICS 100, ICS 200, ICS 700, and ICS 800 certificates A tablet or laptop The participant manual downloaded to your device The participant manual will be available after you complete registration. Registration Assistance If you have trouble registering, please send a screenshot of the issue so we can help troubleshoot. Thank you, and please register as soon as possible to help ensure the class meets the minimum attendance requirement.

Recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 12–18, 2026

By ETCOG Public Safety • April 1, 2026
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, observed April 12–18, 2026 , honors the dedication, service, and sacrifice of the public safety telecommunicators who answer the call when emergencies happen. Held each year during the second week of April, the observance recognizes the professionals who serve as the critical first point of contact in emergency situations. At ETCOG, we are proud to recognize the telecommunicators who serve communities across our region. Their work requires professionalism, compassion, quick thinking, and a steadfast commitment to public safety. In moments of crisis, they provide calm, skilled support and help connect people to the emergency services they need. In 2025 , telecommunicators in ETCOG’s service area answered more than 174,000 9-1-1 calls and more than 20,000 9-1-1 texts . Behind each of those numbers is a person in need of help and a trained telecommunicator ready to respond. ETCOG supports the region’s dispatch offices through training, equipment upgrades, and management of the regional 9-1-1 system. These efforts help ensure telecommunicators have the tools, technology, and resources needed to serve the public effectively and efficiently. During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, we extend our sincere appreciation to the men and women who help keep our communities safe every day. Their work is essential, and their service makes a meaningful difference throughout East Texas.
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