Regarding the COVID-19 (also known as the Coronavirus infection) in the US. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently recommending any “in person” events of 50 people or more to be postponed, since our classes are small with a maximum of 12-15 students, we will NOT be cancelling any upcoming classes at this time, but we will closely monitor any changes the CDC suggests and keep all students informed of any changes. Classes will resume as normal starting after Spring Break, Friday, March 20, 2020.
We want to remind everyone of basic hygiene practices and also implement daily practices for you to use in the classroom in an effort to prevent the spread of any and all illnesses.
Basic hygiene practices that you should be following are:
- Covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing preferably with a tissue that can be disposed of and/or cough/sneeze into your upper arm/elbow if a tissue is not available.
- Washing your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth unless your hands have been recently washed.
Academy for Dental Assistants protocol to keep our students and staff safe and protected:
- Upon entering the building please immediately use hand sanitizer and wash your hands. Sanitizer will be available at the reception desk as soon as you walk in the door and on every table in the classroom and bathrooms (we currently use a 70% alcohol base hand sanitizer).
- Upon entering the classroom wipe down your area, table and chair with disinfectant cleaner. Disinfectant will be available in the classroom.
- The CDC continues to recommend against the use of face masks in a nonmedical setting for people who do not have symptoms, but A4DA will have it as optional for our students to wear a mask and/or gloves while in the classroom. If you choose to wear a mask while in the classroom that mask should be worn the entire day and only changed if soiled (same protocol as in a dental office setting).
- In the dental lab and x-ray rooms, you will continue to use the same protocol as previously used by wearing your PPE – Personal Protection Equipment – lab coat, masks, protective eye wear, and gloves to Practice UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS. Universal Precautions is based on the concept that all human blood and bodily fluids are to be treated as if known to be infected with a blood-borne disease such as HBV, HCV, or HIV infection. The rationale for this concept is that it is not possible to identify those individuals who are infectious, so UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS are to be used for all healthcare personnel and their patients (Textbook pg 283)
STUDENTS PLEASE REREAD CHAPTERS 19, 20 AND 21 IN YOUR TEXTBOOK THAT COVERS INFECTION PREVENTION IN DENTISTRY AND UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS
The school has also implemented disinfecting practices multiple times throughout the day in an effort to prevent the spread of any illness including routine cleaning of commonly touched surfaces, sanitizing equipment such as keyboards, door handles, and counter tops etc.
Please help us keep yourself healthy by following these guidelines and keeping us informed of any concerns you may have.
Thank You
Academy for Dental Assistants