(SARS-CoV-2) & COVID-19 Statement

Scientific Advisory Council Instructor Information 2019 Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and COVID-19

Guidance regarding class conduct:

Implement Social Distancing, Cloth Face Coverings, and Reinforce Hand Hygiene

• Instructors and Students are required to wear face coverings for class.

The CDC has recommended wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies). While this guidance provides for strict social distancing approaches in our classes, the CDC has recognized that maintaining strict social distancing may be difficult in certain situations which for our programs can include when coming to class, during breaks and when going to a bathroom or to other out of class activities. Therefore, following CDC guidance, instructors and students must ARC SAC 2019 Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and COVID-19 Instructor Information ARC SAC Approved April 12, 2020, 4 wear face coverings for class. It is understood and acceptable for brief periods of classes that have CPR practice the mask will have to be lowered. This will be done in the setting of strict social distancing approaches and using breathing barriers and 1 manikin per student.

• Participants and instructors must perform hand hygiene using either soap and water for at least 20 seconds or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available and at a minimum: o Beginning and end of class o Before and after meals and snacks o Before and after skills practice sessions (when wearing gloves, hand hygiene should be done before putting on gloves and after removing them).

• Implement social distancing approaches o Use a 1:1 student to manikin/training aids model o Altering practice for obstructed airway and bleeding  Have students practice direct pressure on themselves  Have students demonstrate correct hand position for abdominal thrusts on themselves  Eliminate the practice of back blows o Modify the Assessing a Responsive Person skill practice to be performed on the manikin o Consider moving to exclusively blended learning  Consider deferring in-person component of blended courses for those students who do not have a current need for skills or certification requirements o For in-person sessions, structure so that students maintain a 6-foot separation from each other o Schedule smaller classes or one-on-one sessions when feasible for in-person components Students and Instructors Should Not Attend Class if Sick

• Instructors should include the following language in pre-class communication (e.g. letters, e-mails, registration): o If the student has any of the following, they should not attend class and reschedule:  Have or have had in past 24 hours a cough, fever, shortness of breath or other symptoms of illness  In the past 14 days, been in close contact with someone suspected or confirmed as having COVID-19?  Confirmed or suspected as having COVID-19 and have had a fever in the past three days and have had symptoms in the past 7 days

• Perform day of the class screening of students preferably prior to entering the class but if not feasible during the discussion that occurs at the beginning of each class regarding having any medical condition or illness. o If the student has any of the following, they must be removed from the class and rescheduled: ARC SAC 2019 Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and COVID-19 Instructor Information ARC SAC Approved April 12, 2020 5  Have or have had in past 24 hours a cough, fever, shortness of breath or other symptoms of illness  In the past 14 days, been in close contact with someone suspected or confirmed as having COVID-19?  Confirmed or suspected as having COVID-19 and have had a fever in the past three days and have had symptoms in the past 7 days Adhere to Standard Precautions and Current Guidance for Minimizing Risk of Infections.

• As always, when teaching classes, instructors must use standard precautions and procedures and follow the guidance in the course-specific Instructor’s Manual in order to prevent the spread of infection every day and to provide protection from COVID-19.

• When practicing on manikins, as is currently listed in our course-specific Instructor’s Manual, all students must have and use their own breathing barrier. o CPR breathing barriers are used to protect the person providing care from contact with saliva and other body fluids and from breathing the air that the person exhales. o Preference is for manikins whose lungs have a one-way valve between the lungs and student.

• Gloves must be used during skill practice with hand hygiene before putting on and after removing.

• Encourage Frequent Hand Hygiene as described earlier. Assure Cleaning Per CDC Guidance and Manufacturer Recommendations.

• Manikins and other training devices touched by students must be cleaned between each student use with the cleaning product routinely used for this purpose according to manufacturer’s directions. o This may include cleaning solutions, sprays, and wipes, which should be labeled as effective against viruses. Per CDC most common EPA-registered disinfectants should be effective.  CDC guidance does not recommend additional disinfection beyond routine cleaning at this time.  CDC states that cleaning products with an EPA-approved emerging viral pathogen claim are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder-to-kill viruses.

• Manikins and other training devices touched by students must be marked as dirty at the end of class. After class, the manikins must be cleaned and disinfected per manufacturers' guidelines. Once cleaned, they should then be marked as clean and dated.

Indicated PPE must be used for cleaning and disinfecting. Follow standard precautions and cleaning and disinfectant manufacturers' guidance.

Cleaning and disinfection must follow CDC, Red Cross, and manufacturer’s guidance.

This process may include the use of disinfection solutions, sprays, and wipes, which should be labeled as effective against viruses. Per CDC most common EPA-registered disinfectants should be effective.  CDC guidance does not recommend additional disinfection beyond routine cleaning and disinfection at this time. ARC SAC 2019 Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and COVID-19 Instructor Information ARC SAC Approved April 12, 2020 6  CDC states that cleaning products with an EPA-approved emerging viral pathogen claim are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Avoid touching surfaces and objects that have been touched by others and limit gatherings

• As previously listed use breathing barriers when practicing on manikins. We recommend use of manikin’s whose lungs have a one-way valve.

• In addition, per CDC guidance, provide disposable wipes so that commonly used surfaces in the class can be wiped down by students and instructors before and after each use.

Quality 1st Red Cross Program Delivery Guidance for prevention of illness:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.

• Avoid close contact

Avoid close contact with people who are sick

Stay home as much as possible

Put distance between yourself and other people. CDC recommends 6 feet separation for social distancing.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

• Stay home when you are sick. If you need to see a healthcare provider or go to a healthcare facility call ahead.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• If tissues are not available, cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces with a commercial or household cleaning spray or wipe.

• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a medical facemask versus face cloth coverings.