Page 28 - March April 2020 TPA

What Officers Need to Know

During an uncertain time when many Americans have fears and questions about
COVID-19, it is more important than ever before that law enforcement officers become
educated about responding to communicable diseases. Each agency should have a
plan in place which prepares officers for the event of widespread COVID-19 outbreaks.
(FEMA) has examples of what an agency’s response plan should include. (FEMA Pandemic
Information for Law Enforcement).

Officers should also be trained regarding the proper use of personal protective equipment.
As a part of their pandemic/emergency response plan, agencies should have a “point
person” who handles such procedures. Agencies like the CDC and FEMA can be great
resources for agencies to find information they need. It is suggested that the person
designated to share information with the agency visit these sites and then share this
information with their peers. This can be in the form of emails, meetings to discuss
procedures, or posters hung up throughout the agency.

Agencies need to be aware of quarantine protocols and be ready to provide their
services to local, state, and federal governments as deemed necessary. Officers should
also make note of various scams that have been surfacing as criminals take advantage
of desperate and anxious people.

Personal Protective Equipment: The CDC recommends very specific personal protective
equipment (PPE) for first responders and those who are closely interacting with the
public on a day-to-day basis. Law enforcement officers may be more likely to encounter
those with COVID-19 as they perform daily duties, and if the outbreak becomes more
widespread, health officials may give officers specific duties that place them directly
on the front lines of the outbreak. It is imperative that officers not only have the proper
equipment, but also know how to use it. The CDC recommends nitrile or latex gloves,
eye protection, and an N95 mask for those with prolonged exposure and close contact
to COVID-19 patients. Regular paper surgical masks are not tight enough to protect the
wearer against microscopic airborne droplets. N95 masks should be fit-tested to ensure
the seal is tight enough by placing both hands over the mask, inhaling, and seeing if the
mask is tight to the face, then users should exhale and feel for any air leakage.

Click links below to see more detailed diagrams regarding
properly putting on, testing, and removing an N95 mask, and
removing contaminated gloves:

Using, Testing, + Removing an N95 Respirator

Difference Between Surgical Mask + N95 Respirator
Safely Removing Gloves

March/April 2020 www.texaspoliceassociation.com • (512) 458-3140 21