1. Protect Yourself

Complete hand hygiene and put on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) before entering the patient’s room. Take only the items you need with you when attending a cardiac arrest, intubation, or any aerosol-generating procedure. Take off PPE in an anteroom or before leaving the patient room.

Disposable devices should be discarded within the room. Items that are reusable should be processed according to hospital policy.

2. Call for Help Early!

Do not delay calling for help or intubation if a patient is not improving with less invasive approaches.

3. Reduce Risk

Use oxygen-delivery devices that produce the lowest levels of aerosols and meet the oxygen needs of the patient – from low-flow nasal cannula to non-rebreather. High-flow nasal cannula is suggested over noninvasive ventilation. High-flow nasal cannula should have a surgical mask in place and noninvasive ventilation should have a HEPA filter in place.

4. Ventilation Goal

Ensure low tidal volume (VT) to protect the lungs.

5. CPR

Pause chest compressions while intubating to minimize aerosolization of the virus and infectious risk to the resuscitation team. Clearly alert the code leader and team members who are providing chest compressions.

By: The American Heart Association