Battelle has expanded its partnership with Ohio to extend their sanitization services to law enforcement agencies and EMS providers in Ohio. CLICK HERE to review the N95 Mask Decontamination Directive for Safety Partners, and to find the procedures for packaging, and drop off and pick up locations for the decontamination process. We’re told that this is at no cost to public safety agencies, and that it is retroactive if your agency previously signed an agreement with Battelle. More information is below, including the announcement from OEMS.
Area agencies can drop off their masks at OSHP posts throughout the state, who will then transport them to Battelle for sanitization and back to the post for area agencies to pick them back up.
Additional considerations courtesy of Dayton Fire Department and Dayton Police Department:
We have instituted the re-use of N-95 masks and have started collecting them in preparation to use the Battelle decontamination procedure. We have not set a guideline on a strict number of uses before they are recycled, but here is some guidance for re-use:
- After removing N-95 mask, visually inspect for contamination, distortion in shape/form.
- If the mask was used during a highly aerosolizing procedure, it should be discarded.
- If soiled, damaged, or saturated, the mask should be discarded.
- If the N-95 mask is NOT visibly soiled, damaged, or saturated, it should be kept for re-use.
- The N-95 mask must be stored in a sealable paper bag or breathable container between uses
- If a mask becomes increasingly difficult to breathe through, it should be discarded
Ohio State Patrol will transport N95 masks to the Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System weekly to decontaminate the used N95 masks for Public Safety at no cost to first responders. Information regarding the collection process is included below from OSP and additional information provided by DPD Lt. Randy Beane.
1. Site Code: Please begin marking DYE-S5-(agency initials –such as DFD) on the bottom outside of the mask in black marker.
2. Establish a collection point in the apparatus bay: follow collection procedures outlined from OSP
3. Mask Counts: Please keep a clipboard with paper next to the collection can in each fire station. Every time you put a mask in the can, mark it down on the paper. You will need to provide the number of masks that you are sending in for decontamination.
4. Drop-off and Transportation: OSP will transport the boxes of masks every Tuesday at 0700 hours to be decontaminated
Finally, here is information from the Dayton Post of OSHP:
As you all are aware, OSHP will transport your soiled masks to be sterilized. I have attached two PDF files that has everything listed that you need to do for Battelle to accept your shipment. The requirements are attached in the “Procedure” file. I have also included a PDF file with the required labels that go on the outside of the box in the attached “Copies” file. You can make copies of those as you need them. If you forget to attach those labels when you drop your box off, I placed copies of the labels at our drop location.
When you have masks that are packaged and ready to go, you can drop them off at the Dayton Post (address is listed below). We have a trailer in the rear parking lot with orange cones around it. The side door has a sign on it relating to N95 masks and is unlocked. All you need to do is place your box ( with the two required labels taped on the outside of the box) inside the trailer. We will take boxes that are ready to go every Tuesday morning at 0700, and we will notify you once they return.
If you have any questions please give me a call.
Lieutenant Geoffrey S. Freeman, Dayton Post Commander
400 Smith Drive, Englewood, Ohio, 45315
gsfreeman@dps.ohio.gov Phone - (937) 832 – 4794
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