Greater Miami Valley EMS Council: #GMVEMSC: FW: Decontamination of Apparatus and Other Items

Courtesy of Dayton FD Assistant Chief Rice, below are some processes procedures to clean and disinfect the inside of Fire and EMS apparatus. He included the CDC recommended cleaning procedures and added the products that we have procured for our higher level of cleaning and a list of approved COVID-19 disinfectants. He also attached a document that details the procedures for cleaning radios.

Also, there are concerns about devices that we put in our faces 100 times a day: my intern John Gutsmiedl did some research for us regarding cleaning cell phones and other small items. Here are two possibilities your agencies can consider; with one you drop in the device, the other is a wand.

1. HoMedics UV-Clean Portable Sanitizer

2. https://www.mobileklean.com/en/index.html?fomo=1&Affid=3248&s1=&s2=&s3=&s4=1913&s5=&domain1=www.flrdra.com&network_id=69&DirectLink=Y&ea=68FS5P1&eo=4CTJZWG&uid=5079&cc=3248CC1913&gclid=Cj0KCQjwx7zzBRCcARIsABPRscOqauoovzzKAhQTtFDFx9pZHT5obsAcWrTCrfkcYKp7A7ohJeXjACQaApf4EALw_wcB

Finally, before we get to apparatus cleaning, Courtesy of Captain Merritt Colton, attached is a formula for creating a bleach solution using powdered chlorine, and below he provided an example of creating disinfectant bleach from 1 lb of 70% hypochlorite powder. Scroll down for apparatus cleaning information.

453 grams per pound of 70% hypochlorite powder

7 grams per liter of water

64 liters of solution

17 gallons of disinfectant bleach solution

Apparatus Cleaning

If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
For disinfection, diluted household bleach solutions, alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective.
- Diluted household bleach solutions can be used if appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.
Prepare a bleach solution by mixing:
- 5 tablespoons (1/3^rd cup) bleach per gallon of water or
- 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water
- Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).
- For soft (porous) surfaces such as carpeted floor, rugs, and drapes, remove visible contamination if present and clean with appropriate cleaners indicated for use on these surfaces. After cleaning:
- If the items can be laundered, launder items in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and then dry items completely.