Pacific Northwest yetti
Expedition Medic
This was *for the 2020 Season May-August, in Egegik Alaska*
Lets talk PPE, Procedures for a + patient. And a few numbers, stats and C19,
Covid 19, a SARS strain. Spread from droplets from an Index patient. these droplets need a large viral load so spread.
These droplets cant move on their own, and would then need moved into the mucus membrane of another person. Eyes, Mouth,Ears, hands, etc
Being transported by one person touching an infected surface and then their own food, mouth, face, etc
Simply put, everyone has something and you dont want it, and if cant guarantee its ben clean, don't touch it, or put it on or around your mouth, especially if its wet.
Masks, so the N95 only filters to 0.3 microns, that's large enough too see, infact not to far from .3 mechanical pencil lead size. OSHA requires everyone whom wears one in business, to sign the OSHA Appendix D, which states that the mask will only protect from particles large enough to see, not smoke, etc and much be changed and kept clean.
We know virus are way smaller than that, nanometer size, needs a microscope to see.
One of the largest misconceptions about masks is that they are to filter C19, which has never been the intention. Not even from the CDC. The WHO unfortunately released a press article in which the word filter was used, and it all went up in smoke.
Since C19 is spread by droplets, the masks are only a splash shield, that's it. To prevent someone who may not know they have it from spreading it. Strange droplets from talking yelling ,sneezing, Laughing, etc from touching you or a surface.
Originally it was thought 10 percent, but some studies have shown as high as 30%. The Alaska Program is one of the best to look at, as everyone was required to be tested regardless of symptoms. Our Alaska numbers showings us its a little under 10%
The company brought 3000 employees into the state. Every person has to get tested multiple times,
Out of these 3,000 employees, 297 tested +, of those 297 +;s 280ish were asymptomatic, they had no symptoms, the remaining 17 showed symptoms.
I had 300 people on site, I am proud to say, my location had the smallest number in the entire company, and Bristol Bay. With 5 +'s on site, and something like 15 close contacts. ( those who tested -, but could of gotten it from the index patients) Index patient is the +.
The requirements are that if you have an index patient, ( a +) they will remain in isolation for 10 +1 days, from their sample. Its a rolling day, as the date of sample is not counted, 10 full days. This can be voided, if someone is showing symptoms and now " bumps" until its 10+1 days after the last symptom. You cant really test out of it, but can take a test every 24hrs for 4 days and they may* allow you out early.
A close contact, being defined as someone who has 1, Shared a bathroom, 2, Contacts of intimacy, or 3, longer than 15 mins, under 6 feet with out a mask.
The close contacts have to wait 15 days ( +1) from the date they were last exposed to the index patient. You can see, how it can get confusing.
One a pt has tested +, and they have been placed into Isolation contact tracing begins, and then notification to the state, and CDC.
Now the cohort group associated with the +, may have their time extended or to all be tested again. many variables,
But the index patients and then close contacts, are moved into strict Isolation, and the entire building must be disinfected or sterilized if possible.
To do this, would require boots, tyvec suit w/hood, mask, and face shield. Two layers of gloves, and taped wrist cuffs, field teams dubbed this the marshmallow suit. Then every surface in the room and building would be sprayed at a minimum 4 times with an alcohol solution of about 75%. I preferred Alcohol, as its non corrosive and safer for general coating everything. Walls, door knobs,clothes, beds, handles, floors etc The bunkhouses would usually take about 4 gallons, a level.
The index pt sheets, were bagged, sealed, sprayed, and then left for a week, followed by a max heat double wash and dry cycle.
For alcohol to kill germs, is must permeate the cell, or RNA walls, and as it evaporates it bursts them. SO its not spray and wipe, its spray and walk away with a fine mist.
We have to trace, everywhere that person has been for the last 15 days, and weigh that with the precautions they took. Of course everyone,, swears they have always masked up....
Lucky for us, its easy to track employees as we provided all their travel data. And it can be tracked to an unsecured area, IE) Airport, somewhere where you can't control the disinfection of the premises. We were able to trace all our primary index patients, to Airports, and a specific airline. That's primary, many other locations had it spread between members inside camp.
C19, has an incubation period of anywhere between 1-15 days. This means you could have C19, and take a test on day5, it shows negative. Your viral load is high enough on day 6, you could test +.
Team, after disinfection of upper Meshik
The girls always wanted poses, humor helps with the serious stuff and allows some relaxation.
Marshmallow time
The suits would be removed using hazmat aseptic technique and placed in Bio bags, and burnt. Pretty much cut and roll them off and inside out.
Shields were disinfected between uses
Team, full
It takes about 20mins to suit up
Lets talk PPE, Procedures for a + patient. And a few numbers, stats and C19,
Covid 19, a SARS strain. Spread from droplets from an Index patient. these droplets need a large viral load so spread.
These droplets cant move on their own, and would then need moved into the mucus membrane of another person. Eyes, Mouth,Ears, hands, etc
Being transported by one person touching an infected surface and then their own food, mouth, face, etc
Simply put, everyone has something and you dont want it, and if cant guarantee its ben clean, don't touch it, or put it on or around your mouth, especially if its wet.
Masks, so the N95 only filters to 0.3 microns, that's large enough too see, infact not to far from .3 mechanical pencil lead size. OSHA requires everyone whom wears one in business, to sign the OSHA Appendix D, which states that the mask will only protect from particles large enough to see, not smoke, etc and much be changed and kept clean.
We know virus are way smaller than that, nanometer size, needs a microscope to see.
One of the largest misconceptions about masks is that they are to filter C19, which has never been the intention. Not even from the CDC. The WHO unfortunately released a press article in which the word filter was used, and it all went up in smoke.
Since C19 is spread by droplets, the masks are only a splash shield, that's it. To prevent someone who may not know they have it from spreading it. Strange droplets from talking yelling ,sneezing, Laughing, etc from touching you or a surface.
Originally it was thought 10 percent, but some studies have shown as high as 30%. The Alaska Program is one of the best to look at, as everyone was required to be tested regardless of symptoms. Our Alaska numbers showings us its a little under 10%
The company brought 3000 employees into the state. Every person has to get tested multiple times,
Out of these 3,000 employees, 297 tested +, of those 297 +;s 280ish were asymptomatic, they had no symptoms, the remaining 17 showed symptoms.
I had 300 people on site, I am proud to say, my location had the smallest number in the entire company, and Bristol Bay. With 5 +'s on site, and something like 15 close contacts. ( those who tested -, but could of gotten it from the index patients) Index patient is the +.
The requirements are that if you have an index patient, ( a +) they will remain in isolation for 10 +1 days, from their sample. Its a rolling day, as the date of sample is not counted, 10 full days. This can be voided, if someone is showing symptoms and now " bumps" until its 10+1 days after the last symptom. You cant really test out of it, but can take a test every 24hrs for 4 days and they may* allow you out early.
A close contact, being defined as someone who has 1, Shared a bathroom, 2, Contacts of intimacy, or 3, longer than 15 mins, under 6 feet with out a mask.
The close contacts have to wait 15 days ( +1) from the date they were last exposed to the index patient. You can see, how it can get confusing.
One a pt has tested +, and they have been placed into Isolation contact tracing begins, and then notification to the state, and CDC.
Now the cohort group associated with the +, may have their time extended or to all be tested again. many variables,
But the index patients and then close contacts, are moved into strict Isolation, and the entire building must be disinfected or sterilized if possible.
To do this, would require boots, tyvec suit w/hood, mask, and face shield. Two layers of gloves, and taped wrist cuffs, field teams dubbed this the marshmallow suit. Then every surface in the room and building would be sprayed at a minimum 4 times with an alcohol solution of about 75%. I preferred Alcohol, as its non corrosive and safer for general coating everything. Walls, door knobs,clothes, beds, handles, floors etc The bunkhouses would usually take about 4 gallons, a level.
The index pt sheets, were bagged, sealed, sprayed, and then left for a week, followed by a max heat double wash and dry cycle.
For alcohol to kill germs, is must permeate the cell, or RNA walls, and as it evaporates it bursts them. SO its not spray and wipe, its spray and walk away with a fine mist.
We have to trace, everywhere that person has been for the last 15 days, and weigh that with the precautions they took. Of course everyone,, swears they have always masked up....
Lucky for us, its easy to track employees as we provided all their travel data. And it can be tracked to an unsecured area, IE) Airport, somewhere where you can't control the disinfection of the premises. We were able to trace all our primary index patients, to Airports, and a specific airline. That's primary, many other locations had it spread between members inside camp.
C19, has an incubation period of anywhere between 1-15 days. This means you could have C19, and take a test on day5, it shows negative. Your viral load is high enough on day 6, you could test +.
Team, after disinfection of upper Meshik
The girls always wanted poses, humor helps with the serious stuff and allows some relaxation.
Marshmallow time
The suits would be removed using hazmat aseptic technique and placed in Bio bags, and burnt. Pretty much cut and roll them off and inside out.
Shields were disinfected between uses
Team, full
It takes about 20mins to suit up
