Contingency and Crisis Capacities

This is a collection of Contingency and Crisis capacity resources. What are Contingency and Crisis capacities?

This collection of resources contains recommendations facilitating conservation of equipment and supplies during contingency (expected shortages) and crisis (known shortages) capacities and should not be applied as guidance when conventional capacities are available.

Contingency and then crisis capacity measures augment conventional capacity measures and are meant to be considered and implemented sequentially (CDC). They are recommended in the following sequence:

Conventional capacity include measures consisting of engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment (PPE) controls that should already be implemented in general infection prevention and control plans in healthcare settings.
Contingency capacity measures may be used temporarily during periods of expected shortages. Contingency capacity strategies should only be implemented after considering and implementing conventional capacity strategies.
Crisis capacity strategies are not commensurate with U.S. standards of care but may need to be considered during periods of known shortages. Crisis capacity strategies should only be implemented after considering and implementing conventional and contingency capacity strategies.

Key Facts:

When using these strategies, healthcare facilities should (CDC):
- Consider these options and implement them sequentially
- Understand their current PPE inventory, supply chain, and utilization rate
- Train healthcare personnel on PPE use and have them demonstrate competency with donning and doffing any PPE ensemble that is used to perform job responsibilities
- Once PPE availability returns to normal, promptly resume conventional practices

Where to Start:

Consult the CDC guidance on optimizing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/index.html
- Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Facemasks: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/face-masks.html
- Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Eye Protection: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/eye-protection.html
- Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Isolation Gowns: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/isolation-gowns.html
- Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Disposable Medical Gloves: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/gloves.html
- Summary for Healthcare Facilities: Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of PPE during Shortages: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/strategies-optimize-ppe-shortages.html
See NETEC's selection of tools on PPE (COVID-19) Use and Conservation.

Contingency and Crisis Capacity Resources:

Browse through the resources at the bottom of this page, under Collection Resources, to find strategies to help with reuse and extended use of supplies.

N95 Flowchart - are Crisis Capacity Strategies necessary?

Start with the flowchart below to see how to determine when contingency and crisis capacity strategies are necessary.

Collection Resources

Emergency Department PPE: ACE, PAPR (reuse), Coveralls (reuse), Double gloves

Tags 2019-nCoV, Contingency and crisis capacities, Coronavirus, Coveralls, COVID-19, Donning and Doffing, Emergency Department, Example, Extended wear, Gloves, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR), R-PPE

Creator: Emory
Subject: Infection Control
Item Type: Guide
Date Last Updated: 2020-08-17
Description: COVID-19: Printable PDFPutting ON PPE, Extended Wear, Taking OFF PPEInstructions for ACE PPE. Useful for when you are... ...experiencing PPE supply issues. ...caring for a symptomatic patients. ...performing aerosolizing procedures. These…
Conservation strategies: This resource contains recommendations facilitating conservation of equipment and supplies during contingency (expected shortages) and crisis (known shortages) capacities and should not be applied as guidance when conventional capacities are available.

Example only: NETEC provides this item for reference purposes but does not endorse its content. Newer versions may be in place at the providing institution.
Ciclo de descontaminación de respiradores N95 UVGI

Tags 2019-nCoV, Contingency and crisis capacities, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Decontamination, Español, Filtering Facepiece Respirator, Healthcare Worker Safety, N95, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), R-PPE, Respirator, Respiratory Protection, Reuse, Spanish

Creator: NETEC
Subject: Elementos en Español
Item Type: Guide
Date Last Updated: 2020-06-29
Description: UVGI* Decontamination Cycle for N95 Respirators in Spanish. UVGI = Irradiación Germicida Ultravioleta
Conservation strategies: This resource contains recommendations facilitating conservation of equipment and supplies during contingency (expected shortages) and crisis (known shortages) capacities and should not be applied as guidance when conventional capacities are available.
UVGI* Decontamination Cycle for N95 Respirators

Tags 2019-nCoV, Contingency and crisis capacities, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Decontamination, N95, R-IPC

Creator: NETEC
Subject: Infection Control
Item Type: Guide
Date Last Updated: 2020-06-29
Description: Printable flyer infographic with the steps of the UVGI decontamination cycle.Prepare for decontamination UVGI decontamination occurs Inspect before use Pick up clean N95
Conservation strategies: This resource contains recommendations facilitating conservation of equipment and supplies during contingency (expected shortages) and crisis (known shortages) capacities and should not be applied as guidance when conventional capacities are available.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle N95 Respirators

Tags 2019-nCoV, Contingency and crisis capacities, Coronavirus, COVID-19, N95, R-IPC

Creator: NETEC
Subject: Infection Control
Item Type: Guide
Date Last Updated: 2020-06-29
Description: Printable flyer infographic outlining options for reuse and recycling of N95 respirators.
Conservation strategies: This resource contains recommendations facilitating conservation of equipment and supplies during contingency (expected shortages) and crisis (known shortages) capacities and should not be applied as guidance when conventional capacities are available.
Reusing Face and Eye PPE - Extended Wear - Flyer

Tags 2019-nCoV, Contingency and crisis capacities, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Donning and Doffing, Example, Extended wear, Face shield, Gloves, Goggles, Gown, Hand Hygiene, Mask, Masks, One Page Flyer, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), R-PPE, Reuse

Creator: Emory
Subject: Infection Control
Item Type: Guide
Date Last Updated: 2020-05-05
Description: Extended wear/Cohort reuse protocol for face and eye protection when supplies are low and the provider is treating only COVID-19 patients.
Conservation strategies: This resource contains recommendations facilitating conservation of equipment and supplies during contingency (expected shortages) and crisis (known shortages) capacities and should not be applied as guidance when conventional capacities are available.

Example only: NETEC provides this item for reference purposes but does not endorse its content. Newer versions may be in place at the providing institution.
Conserve PPE: Reusing face shield, eyewear, and N95

Tags 2019-nCoV, Contingency and crisis capacities, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Example, Face shield, Gloves, Goggles, Mask, Masks, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), R-PPE, Reuse

Creator: Emory
Subject: Infection Control
Item Type: Guide
Date Last Updated: 2020-04-07
Description: COVID-19 Flyer: These instructions are only meant to be used when supplies are low.
Conservation strategies: This resource contains recommendations facilitating conservation of equipment and supplies during contingency (expected shortages) and crisis (known shortages) capacities and should not be applied as guidance when conventional capacities are available.

Example only: NETEC provides this item for reference purposes but does not endorse its content. Newer versions may be in place at the providing institution.
Create your own PPE figure

Tags 2019-nCoV, Communications, Contingency and crisis capacities, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Example, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), R-PPE

Creator: Emory
Subject: Infection Control
Item Type: Guide
Date Last Updated: 2020-05-29
Description: COVID-19 Resources: General PPE Guidance - If you are in charge of creating PPE signage or communications for your institution, we have created a simple way for you to dress a figure in different pieces of PPE and export for your own use. These are…
Conservation strategies: This resource contains recommendations facilitating conservation of equipment and supplies during contingency (expected shortages) and crisis (known shortages) capacities and should not be applied as guidance when conventional capacities are available.

Example only: NETEC provides this item for reference purposes but does not endorse its content. Newer versions may be in place at the providing institution.
Rapid Expert Consultation on Crisis Standards of Care for the COVID-19 Pandemic (March 28, 2020)

Tags 2019-nCoV, Contingency and crisis capacities, Coronavirus, COVID-19, R-T&C, Treatment and Care

Creator: Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats
Subject: Treatment & Care
Item Type: Publication
Date Last Updated: 2020-03-28
Description: This publication articulates the guiding principles, key elements, and core messages that undergird Crisis Standards of Care decision-making at all levels.In response to a request from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the National…
Conservation strategies: This resource contains recommendations facilitating conservation of equipment and supplies during contingency (expected shortages) and crisis (known shortages) capacities and should not be applied as guidance when conventional capacities are available.
ED - Taking OFF Airborne (In Room)

Tags 2019-nCoV, ACE, Contingency and crisis capacities, Coronavirus, Coveralls, COVID-19, Doffing, Emergency Department, Example, Extended wear, Face shield, Gloves, Hand Hygiene, N95, One Page Flyer, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), R-PPE, Terminal Clean

Creator: Emory
Subject: Infection Control
Item Type: Guide
Date Last Updated: 2020-04-05
Description: COVID-19 ED Resources: COVID-19 ACE Emergency Department CONSERVE Printable PDFs.

Taking OFF PPE, Doffing Only

These one-page PDF's depict the Emergency Department use of PPE for protection against COVID-19 that is currently in use at Emory…
Conservation strategies: This resource contains recommendations facilitating conservation of equipment and supplies during contingency (expected shortages) and crisis (known shortages) capacities and should not be applied as guidance when conventional capacities are available.

Example only: NETEC provides this item for reference purposes but does not endorse its content. Newer versions may be in place at the providing institution.
1-Check COVID

Tags 2019-nCoV, Contingency and crisis capacities, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Diagnosis, R-IPC

Creator: University of Nebraska Medical Center / Nebraska Medicine
Subject: Infection Control
Item Type: Hyperlink
Date Last Updated: 2020-04
Description: Designed by leading health experts at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the 1-Check COVID app features an easy to use interface that asks you to complete a series of questions about your symptoms, travel, medical conditions, and exposure.…
Conservation strategies: This resource contains recommendations facilitating conservation of equipment and supplies during contingency (expected shortages) and crisis (known shortages) capacities and should not be applied as guidance when conventional capacities are available.