Woman saves three relatives from Ebola using "trash bag method" for personal protective equipment (PPE)

[Sharky]

"Fatu stayed healthy, which is noteworthy considering that more than 300 health care workers have become infected with Ebola, and she didn't even have personal protection equipment -- those white space suits and goggles used in Ebola treatment units.

Instead Fatu, who's in her final year of nursing school, invented her own equipment. International aid workers heard about Fatu's "trash bag method" and are now teaching it to other West Africans who can't get into hospitals and don't have protective gear of their own.

Every day, several times a day for about two weeks, Fatu put trash bags over her socks and tied them in a knot over her calves. Then she put on a pair of rubber boots and then another set of trash bags over the boots.
She wrapped her hair in a pair of stockings and over that a trash bag. Next she donned a raincoat and four pairs of gloves on each hand, followed by a mask.

It was an arduous and time-consuming process, but Fatu was religious about it, never cutting corners."

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/25/health/ebola-fatu-family/

[sharon sanders]

Re: Woman saves three relatives from Ebola using "trash bag method" for personal protective equipment (PPE)

Please note - This woman is trained in nursing skills.

In Liberia, one woman's singular fight against Ebola


snips

She set up a makeshift isolation room in a spare unfinished room outside the house.

She bought raincoats, rain boots, chlorine and other supplies. Then she went to work.

When she entered her father?s treatment room she put on socks, plastic bags donned like waders, rain boots, four sets of gloves, a coat, a mask and a plastic bag over her hair.

He wouldn?t eat. Carefully, she put in an intravenous drip. (Again, this woman is trained in nursing skills. s.s.)

She poured rehydration liquids down his throat, drop by drop.

She gave him blood pressure medicine, antibiotics, analgesics for his fever and splitting headache.

She even gave him an antiretroviral medicine normally used to save the lives of AIDS patients.?

She went through four boxes of surgical gloves, and bags of raincoats.

When she took off the clothing, she had to shrug it off carefully to avoid touching the exterior. She sprayed copiously with chlorinated water.

She carefully burned all the waste.


more...

http://www.latimes.com/world/africa/la-fg-in-liberia-woman-fight-ebola-20141005-story.html

[Nika]

Re: Woman saves three relatives from Ebola using "trash bag method" for personal protective equipment (PPE)

She is awesome. Im sure she was also scared stiff of making mistakes (thus the "religious" attention to detail) but did it out of love for her family.

[Lizw]

Re: Woman saves three relatives from Ebola using "trash bag method" for personal protective equipment (PPE)

Please note - This woman is trained in nursing skills.

In Liberia, one woman's singular fight against Ebola


snips

She set up a makeshift isolation room in a spare unfinished room outside the house.

She bought raincoats, rain boots, chlorine and other supplies. Then she went to work.

When she entered her father?s treatment room she put on socks, plastic bags donned like waders, rain boots, four sets of gloves, a coat, a mask and a plastic bag over her hair.

He wouldn?t eat. Carefully, she put in an intravenous drip. (Again, this woman is trained in nursing skills. s.s.)

She poured rehydration liquids down his throat, drop by drop.

She gave him blood pressure medicine, antibiotics, analgesics for his fever and splitting headache.

She even gave him an antiretroviral medicine normally used to save the lives of AIDS patients.?

She went through four boxes of surgical gloves, and bags of raincoats.

When she took off the clothing, she had to shrug it off carefully to avoid touching the exterior. She sprayed copiously with chlorinated water.

She carefully burned all the waste.


more...

http://www.latimes.com/world/africa/...005-story.html

That listed of 100 things you posted said you couldn't have too many trash bags. Here's another reason to have a lot of them.

[kiwibird]

Re: Woman saves three relatives from Ebola using "trash bag method" for personal protective equipment (PPE)

CDC info states that Ebola is vulnerable to the same disinfectants as the Norovirus family. Readily available bleach and disinfectants stating effectivity to noro and rota viruses especially quaternary ammonium.

[Dani]

Re: Woman saves three relatives from Ebola using "trash bag method" for personal protective equipment (PPE)

Besides the fact that she is incredibly brave and determined, this story shows that a healthy respect for the disease might be the most important component of the PPE.

[kiwibird]

Re: Woman saves three relatives from Ebola using "trash bag method" for personal protective equipment (PPE)

Thanks to G.Verkerk for this link;
*
Re: Spain: Spanish Nurse Who Treated Ebola Victim in Madrid Tests Positive For Disease - 2nd confirming test confirms nosocomial transmission
I found this screenshot of instructions how to use PPE on my PC, can't remember where I got it, don't know if it's useful:
Attached Images
IMG_0001.jpg (175.4 KB, 34 views)

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=18245&d=1412931708

[sharon sanders]

Re: Woman saves three relatives from Ebola using "trash bag method" for personal protective equipment (PPE)

Brilliant work with such limited resources.

[curiosity]

Re: Woman saves three relatives from Ebola using "trash bag method" for personal protective equipment (PPE)

I wonder if her antibodies would show previous infection with Ebola. She has been learning in the healthcare environment and a previous infection would be within the realm of possibilities.