Setting Up a Health Center During COVID-19
School nurses will be critical in the administration of regulations designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which means it’s more important than ever to ensure their office is fully stocked with all the essentials. Use the following suggested guidelines to determine the appropriate quantities of PPE and sanitizers to purchase.
Group |
Quantity per 100 per group |
12-week Supply at 100% Attendance |
12-week Supply at 50% Attendance |
12-week Supply at 25% Attendance |
Assumptions |
Students
|
100 masks per week |
1,200 |
600 |
300 |
1 disposable mask per week per student (to supplement the cloth masks provided by parent/guardian). |
Teachers and other staff |
500 |
6,000 |
3,000 |
1,500 |
5 disposable masks per week per teacher. |
School nurses and health providers |
1,000 |
12,000 |
6,000 |
3,000 |
10 disposable masks per week per school nurse. |
The above numbers are suggested guidelines. The actual amount of supplies required may vary.
Item |
1-week Supply for 1 Staff |
12-week Supply |
Assumptions |
Disposable Nitrile Gloves |
10 |
120 |
10 pairs disposable nitrile gloves per week, per staff. |
Disposable Gowns |
10 |
120 |
10 disposable gowns per week, per staff. |
Eye Protection |
2 |
n/a |
2 reusable eye protection per staff total. |
Face Shields |
2 |
n/a |
2 reusable face shields per staff total. |
Waste Disposal Medium |
1 |
n/a |
1 unit per staff total. |
N-95 Ventilating Masks
|
10 |
120 |
10 N-95 masks per week, per staff. |
The above numbers are suggested guidelines. The actual amount of supplies required may vary.
BUILDING SUPPLIES
Item |
1-week Supply for one building |
12-week Supply at 100% Attendance |
12-week Supply at 50% Attendance |
Assumptions |
Hand Sanitizer |
1/3 gallon/ classroom |
4 gallons/ classroom |
2 gallons/ classroom |
1/3 gallon of hand sanitizer per classroom, per week at 100% attendance. |
Disposable Nitrile Gloves
|
20 |
240 |
240 |
20 disposable nitrile gloves (pair) per week, per custodial staff member at 100% attendance. |
Waste Disposal Medium |
1 |
n/a |
n/a |
1 disposal medium per school building. |
The above numbers are suggested guidelines. The actual amount of supplies required may vary.
In addition to these provisions, the health office space should be configured to provide added functionality and opportunities for physical separation. Please consider the following when optimizing a nurse’s station for COVID-19:
- Waiting and triage area with 4 chairs for every 300 students
- Assessment and treatment area capable of isolating any suspected COVID-19 cases
- Privacy/conference area for counseling and meeting with visual privacy
- Quick access to student records, a telephone, and computer
- Isolation area with cot and chair for students with potentially infectious problems
- Tile or seamless antimicrobial resinous floor or mats to facilitate disinfection of soiled areas
- Easily cleanable, hard-surface walls
- Heating and air conditioning controls separate from the rest of the building
- Access to fresh air and exhaust fans to provide adequate ventilation
- Washable surfaces or disposable sheeting to allow for disinfecting between students
- Screening equipment as required by state or district mandates
- Wall-mounted liquid soap dispensers adjacent to all sinks
- Wall-mounted paper towel dispensers adjacent to all sinks
- Pedal controlled, covered waste receptacle with disposable liners
- First-aid station with washable counter tops and adequate storage space
- Sharps container for disposal of hazardous medical waste and procedures for disposal of hazardous waste containers
- Folding screens or draperies to provide privacy in rest area