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/niosh/healthcare/hcp/pandemic/conserving-ppe-shortages.html
  • Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Facemasks: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/healthcare/hcp/pandemic/conserving-n95.html
  • Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Eye Protection: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/healthcare/hcp/pandemic/conserving-eye-protection.html
  • Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Isolation Gowns: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/healthcare/hcp/pandemic/conserving-isolation-gowns.html
  • Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Disposable Medical Gloves: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/healthcare/hcp/pandemic/conserving-disposable-gloves.html
  • Summary for Healthcare Facilities: ​Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of PPE during Shortages:  https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/healthcare/hcp/pandemic/conserving-ppe.html

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.