This webpage shares resources to help reduce the impacts to healthcare during an infectious disease outbreak or pandemic. It includes ways to prolong existing supplies while still offering the most protection available to workers. It also includes ways to use ventilation to improve worker, patient, and visitor safety.
Overview
Pandemics happen when new viruses emerge which can infect people easily and spread from person to person in an efficient and sustained way. Outbreaks and pandemics can place extraordinary demands on public health and health care systems as well as on essential community services. Healthcare providers and hospitals may be overwhelmed, and there may not be enough medical supplies to meet demand. Additionally, medical facilities may need to use ventilation to improve worker, patient, and visitor safety.
Resources
Series of strategies to conserve supplies of personal protective equipment in healthcare settings
Facilities can use this tool to calculate their average PPE consumption rate or “burn rate”
![[thumbnail] (hidden)](https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/media/images/2025/12/HVAC-Systems-for-Measles-Outbreaks-Checklist-v11-thumb.png)
This checklist helps assess HVAC systems in healthcare facilities caring for measles patients.
Guidance for using and building ventilated headboards
Guidance for using portable HEPA filtration systems to create expedient patient isolation rooms
Safe and proper sharps disposal during a mass vaccination campaign
Strategies to conserve sharps disposal containers during supply shortages
Content Source:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
link