key: cord-1020849-9ec6hygx
authors: Khan, Mubarak M.; Parab, Sapna R.
title: Safety Guidelines for Sterility of Face Shields During COVID 19 Pandemic
date: 2020-04-30
journal: Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-020-01865-2
sha: 64add1b3ac7f824ad1c0664f06b6f63aa1a0ffc2
doc_id: 1020849
cord_uid: 9ec6hygx

Face shields are personal protective equipment devices that are to be used by many health care workers during COVID 19 pandemic for protection of the facial area and associated mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) from droplet spread of infection. Face shields are generally not used alone, but in conjunction with other protective equipment like cap, mask, goggle, and are therefore classified as adjunctive personal protective equipment. In the wake of scarcity of face shields during the COVID 19 Pandemic, consideration of innovating newer methods of manufacturing must be considered to overcome the present day scarcity without jeopardising the safety of front line Heath care workers. All initial fast innovations comes with advantages and disadvantages, hence we thought of putting down simple guidelines for new emerged face shield use.

Face shields are personal protective equipment devices that are to be used by many health care workers during COVID 19 pandemic for protection of the facial area and associated mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) from droplet spread of infection. Face shields are generally not used alone, but in conjunction with other protective equipment like cap, mask, goggle, and are therefore classified as adjunctive personal protective equipment. Since Corona Pandemic has started many innovations have evolved for Face shield to avoid droplet infection. In the wake of scarcity of face shields during the COVID 19 Pandemic, consideration of innovating newer methods of manufacturing must be considered to overcome the present day scarcity without jeopardising the safety of front line Heath care workers. All initial fast innovations comes with advantages and disadvantages, hence we thought of putting down simple guidelines for new emerged face shield use for front line Heath care workers.

We must consider following points while dealing with face shields.

1. Snug/tightly fitting. *The face shield must be snugly fitting around head without any gaps between forehead and shield. The readymade plastic bands are not tight fitting and may fall off with repeated use. Use of sponge in between forehead and face shield gives good comfort, but such face shields should be used as disposable as sterilisation of sponge is incomplete.

*In case of disposable face shield, removal to be done with utmost care and dispose properly. *Reusable Face Shields: Utmost care to be taken while removing the shield after use and then sterilise it before reuse. Reusable face shields must be free from any sponges or sticking material or stapler pins to achieve good sterilisation. *Minimum 5 reusable face shields must be kept in reserve to use it alternately with sterilisation. 

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