What Is Protocol To Protect Workers From Ebola?
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The head of the CDC has said a breach of protocol may have let two workers contract Ebola at Texas Presbyterian Hospital.
Podcast
A Chicago specialist explains the rigors of the present way of doing things.
Dr. Michael David at the University of Chicago says even if all the protective equipment is put on properly, trouble can arise when the equipment comes off.
He says the equipment includes shoe covers, clothes covers, apron gloves, eye protection, face mask, head covering among other things. Then they all have to be put on in a certain order, boot tops taped around the legs.
Then he says the really hard part is getting undressed without the skin ever touching the outer-wear that may have touched the patient.
He says after three to four hours along with an extremely ill patient, the exit taking 10 to 15 minutes is extremely difficult and stressful and is best done with a buddy watching to ensure that all the steps are done correctly.
He stresses he does not know exactly what happened at Texas Presbyterian hospital and he's not blaming the nurse or anyone else for their performance.
Susan Swart is the executive director of the American Nurses Association of Illinois, which represents 175,000 nurses in the state.
She's fielding at least 50 calls a day from Illinois nurses concerned that what's happening in Africa and Dallas could happen here.
"I wouldn't say they're scared but they're actively looking for information," she told CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli.
Starting on Thursday, air passengers from Liberia, SIerra Leone and Guinea will be screened for Ebola.
