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Enhanced Aerosol Filtration within Ambulance-Workspace during Pandemic Response

Pena, Mirle
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7082-5863
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1637065053284199

Abstract Details

2021, MS, University of Cincinnati, Engineering and Applied Science: Biomedical Engineering.
Emergency medical services (EMS) providers have been some of the most exposed healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic even when wearing personal protective equipment. Pre-hospital environments have a high risk of disease transmission exposing EMS providers to bioaerosols and droplets from infectious patients. Field intubation procedures may be performed causing the generation of bioaerosols, thereby increasing the exposure of EMS workers to pathogens. Additionally, ambulances have a reduced volume compared to a hospital treatment space, often without an air filtration system and no control mechanism to reduce exposure. The present study evaluated two different filtration concepts for reducing aerosol concentrations in the patient module of the ambulance. Concentration measurements were done in an unoccupied research ambulance at NIOSH Cincinnati using a tracer aerosol and optical particle counters. The first filtration concept evaluated small portable HEPA filter units within the ambulance compartment after the aerosol generation had occurred. The second concept was a containment pod with a HEPA-filtered evacuation system that was developed and tested based on its ability to contain, capture, and remove aerosols during the intubation procedure. The portable HEPA units reduced aerosol concentration by about 1/3rd within the initial 10 minutes of testing, when compared to the natural decay. The containment pod with HEPA-filtered evacuation showed instantaneous containment of generated particle concentrations followed by rapid air cleaning within the containment pod. Both filtration concepts can help reduce aerosol concentrations within the ambulance patient module.
Rupak Banerjee, Ph.D (Committee Chair)
Thomas Talavage (Committee Member)
Kenneth Mead, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
52 p.
Biomedical Research
HEPA Filter; Aerosol; Ambulance; EMS workers; Containment barrier; Containment pod

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Pena, M. (2021). Enhanced Aerosol Filtration within Ambulance-Workspace during Pandemic Response [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1637065053284199

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Pena, Mirle. Enhanced Aerosol Filtration within Ambulance-Workspace during Pandemic Response. 2021. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1637065053284199.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Pena, Mirle. "Enhanced Aerosol Filtration within Ambulance-Workspace during Pandemic Response." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1637065053284199

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1637065053284199
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.