The COVID-19 outbreak has caused a severe shortage of personal protective equipment in long-term care homes. While care providers are stretched thin and compelled to do more with less, they are at greater risk of injury or illness.
To put things into perspective, the table below shows how monthly PPE usage at one care home in British Columbia has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic. The shift occurred before additional PPE requirements were implemented and does not account for other infections/outbreaks.
| PPE | Before COVID-19 | After COVID-19 | Increase in usage |
| Masks | 2,800 | 4,310 | 154% |
| Gloves | 180,000 | 225,000 | 125% |
| Gowns | 600 | 800 | 133% |
| Oxivir | 57 | 107 | 188% |
| Hand sanitizer 1200 ml | 31 | 41 | 132% |
| Hand sanitizer 500 ml | 18 | 36 | 200% |
PPE Burn Rate Calculator
The United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Burn Rate Calculator to help health care workers plan and optimize their use of PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To use the calculator, enter the number of full boxes of each type of PPE that you have in stock (e.g., gowns, gloves, surgical masks, respirators, and face shields). The spreadsheet will then calculate the average consumption rate for each type of PPE and estimate the remaining supply.
Operation Protect
SafeCare BC is asking individuals and organizations to donate any spare personal protective equipment, such as examination gloves, surgical masks, protective gowns, eye protection, hand sanitizer, and medical-grade disinfectant wipes.
The organization is working with B.C.’s Ministry of Health to collect and distribute the equipment.
The community response to Operation Protect has been overwhelming, with 230 donors contributing 261,000 items of equipment, including masks, gloves, gowns, eye protection, and hand sanitizer.
