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Help Us Respond
to COVID-19
to COVID-19
We are committed to bringing our experience, resources, and partners together to meet the increasing needs facing communities here in the U.S. and around the world.
Our Impact
Together, we have helped thousands of healthcare workers, children & families navigate this crisis!
Over the last year, Assist International has been hard at work distributing essential supplies, medication, food, and equipment to countries facing increased needs worldwide:
- For health facilities in remote locations, we launched a comprehensive COVID-19 series to provide healthcare professionals with remote training, mentoring, and support.
- Our experience with medical oxygen has been essential in reaching hospitals and health clinics with access to the tools and medication they need to save lives.
- We are continuing to actively respond to the needs of our child:assist partners in distributing food, soap, and critical medication.
- 3,100 liters of liquid soap & 3,090 masks were made and distributed for refugees & families across Northern Uganda!
- Alongside Step Up in Crisis, we distributed over 1M units of PPE to-date to front line healthcare workers across the United States.
- Our community:assist program continues to respond to the essential needs of local families who are significantly impacted by COVID-19.
ALLIANCE FOR NAVAJO SUSTAINABILITY
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the long-existing and intensifying lack of water security on Navajo Nation lands. As a result, the Alliance for Navajo Sustainability was formed as an effort to provide immediate water access and develop agricultural systems leading to improved overall health.
Our Impact
Global Response
health:assist
Now, more than ever, oxygen is a crucial treatment required for those whose lives are at risk during this global crisis. We are working with our partners to get this essential medicine and equipment to those who need it most.
community:assist
We trained a team of safety compliant volunteers who have diligently served to keep our program running & distribute goods to local families in need. Supporting families and individuals with life’s essentials empowers them to begin the journey of restoring their homes, businesses, and livelihoods.
Child:assist
We are increasing the capacity of our partners to meet needs facing children and families in their communities by distributing emergency food, wash stations, PPE, and critical medication. We have also launched farming initiatives for long-term food security!
COVID-19 Tele-Education Series
Over the last year, we have collaborated with academic partners to develop and deploy comprehensive tele-mentoring series in Oxygen Therapy and Critical Care, providing clinicians and biomedical professionals with remote training, a platform for discussion, and sharing of best practices in caring for COVID-19 patients within resource variable settings.
Stay Updated
COVID-19 Clinical Resources For Healthcare Providers
GENERAL RESOURCES
- NEW: PATH: Oxygen Generation and Storage Series
- NEW: Global Fund: COVID-19 Response Mechanism (Funding Requests)
- NCD Alliance: COVID-19 Resources Relevant to NCDs
- COVID-19 Protocols Resource
- Oxygen Supply & Delivery FAQ
- Open Critical Care: COVID-19 Resources
- TZ ECHO 0.5% Chlorine Video
- Open Critical Care: The Oxygen CalculatorPATH: COVID-19 Oxygen Needs Tracker
- Open Critical Care: The Respiratory Care Pocket Card
- Ventilator Circuit, Filters and Humidification Setup
- Oxygen Supply & Delivery FAQ by World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists, the University of California San Francisco Anesthesia Division of Global Health Equity, and OPENPediatrics.
- John Hopkins University: COVID-19 Dashboard
- WHO Academy: COVID-19 Learning Centre – A mobile learning app targeted specifically to health workers
- WHO: Maintaining essential health services: operational guidance for the COVID-19 context
- Africa CDC: Guidance for the continuation of essential health services during COVID-19 pandemic
- WHO: Operational considerations for case management of COVID-19 in health facility and community
- WHO: Health Alert WhatsApp Group (Dedicated messaging service available in multiple languages)
- WHO: Country and Technical Guidance on COVID-19 Database
- WHO: The COVAX Facility – Global Procurement of COVID-19 Vaccine
TREATMENT & CARE GUIDELINES
- Open Critical Care – COVID-19 Clinical Guidelines
- Infectious Diseases Society of America – Guidelines on the Treatment and Management of Patients with COVID-19 [updated periodically]
- US National Institute of Health: COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines
- UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Rapid Guidelines
- CHEST – COVID-19 Clinical Resources
- Partners in Health: Clinical Management of COVID-19
- CDC: Clinical Questions about COVID-19 – Your Questions Answered
- WHO: Use of Chest Imaging in COVID-19 – A Rapid Advice Guide
- Massachusetts General Hospital: Inpatient Care Recommendations
- WHO: Off-label use of medicines for COVID-19
- WHO: Considerations for the provision of essential oral services in the context of COVID-19
- WHO: Immunization in the Context of the COVID-19 pandemic
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS (OBSTETRICS, PEDIATRICS, HIV)
- The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health: Compendium of COVID-19 Related Partner Resources on Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health
- CDC: Care for Pregnant Women
- Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada: Caring for Pregnant Women
- Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada: Caring for Pregnant Women [Job Aid]
- WHO: Pregnancy Case Report Form (CRF):
- WHO: Breastfeeding and COVID-19
- Africa CDC: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children and Adolescents temporally related to COVID-19
- Infectious Disease Society of America: COVID-19 – Special Considerations for People Living with HIV
- US National Institute of Health: Interim Guidance for COVID-19 and Persons with HIV
- WHO: Q & A on HIV, Antiretrovirals and COVID-19
CRITICAL CARE – GENERAL RESOURCES
- Society for Critical Care Medicine: Critical Care for the Non-Critical Care Specialist [ONLINE COURSE]
- Quick ICU Training: Critical Care Education Pandemic Preparedness
- Surviving Sepsis Campaign: Guidelines on the Management of Critically Ill Adults with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Respiratory Society of Kenya: Management of Severe COVID-19 Disease after Confirmation of Tests
- Resuscitation Council UL: Adult Advanced Life Support for COVID-19 Patients in Acute Hospital Settings
CRITICAL CARE – RESPIRATORY CARE & VENTILATION
- WHO: Clinical Care Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Training
- Society for Critical Care Medicine: Summary of Recommendations on the Management of Patients with COVID-19 and ARDS [Job Aide]
- Society for Critical Care Medicine: Summary of Recommendations on the Initial Management of Hypoxic COVID-19 Patients [Job Aide]
- Chest CT Manifestations of new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Pictorial Review [Journal Article]
- WHO: Technical Specifications for Invasive and Non-Invasive Ventilators for COVID-19
- American Society of Anesthesiologists: Guidance on Purposing Anesthesia Machines as ICU Ventilators
- ICU Delirium: Delirium Prevention and Safety Starting with the ABCDEF’s
- CHEST: COVID-19 Precautions During Airway Management
- Society for American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons: Basics of Mechanical Ventilation for Non-Critical Care MDs
- University of California San Francisco: Respiratory Therapy Pocket Reference
CRITICAL CARE – CARDIAC CARE
- Canadian Cardiovascular Society: COVID-19 and Cardiovascular Disease – What the Healthcare Provider Should Know
- Open Pediatrics: Demonstration of Bubble CPAP for the Low Resource Environment [VIDEO]
- BMC Open: Managing COVID-19 in Resource Limited Settings – Critical Care Considerations
- World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists: Practical Guide for the Intensive Care Management of Patients with COVID-19
- American Heart Association: BLS Healthcare Provider Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Algorithm for 2+ More Rescuers for Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Patients
- American Heart Association: BLS Healthcare Provider Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Algorithm for Single Rescuers for Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Patients
- Pediatric American Heart Association: Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Algorithm for Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Patients
- Adult American Heart Association: Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Algorithm for Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Patients
SURGICAL CARE IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID-19
- WHO: Surgical Safety Checklist
- LifeBox: Surgical Patient Checklist
- LifeBox: Annals of Surgery – COVID-19 Preparedness within the surgical, obstetric and anesthetic ecosystem in Sub Saharan Africa
- Royal College of Surgeons of England: COVID-19 – Good Practice for Surgeons and Surgical Teams
- What we do when a COVID-19 patient needs an operation: operating room preparation and guidance [Journal Article]
- American Society of Anesthesiologists: Roadmap for Resuming Elective Surgery after COVID-19 Pandemic
- University of Cape Town in South Africa: Creative Low Resource Solutions to Creating Barriers to Protect the Anesthesia Provider during intubation and extubation: o Intubate in Bag Technique:
- Aerosol Barriers:
- World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists: Does this case have to go to the OR?
- Zambia Anesthesia Development Program: Supporting Anesthesia Providers in your Department During COVID-19
- CDC: List of Aerosol-Generating Procedures
- American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine / European Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Therapy: COVID-19 Guidance for Regional Anesthesia
- WHO: Critical and Surgical Anesthetic Care in the Context of COVID-19
- WFSA: Vital Anesthesia Simulation Training
OXYGEN THERAPY IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID-19
- NEW: PATH: A2O2 Resource Library
- WHO Toolkit: Clinical Care of Severe Acute Respiratory Infections
- Massachusetts General Hospital: Prone Positioning for Non-Intubated Patients Guideline
- Rush University Medical Center: Prone Positioning for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ARDS) [VIDEO]
- EMCrit: Awake Proning For COVID-19
- Nature: Oxygen and Retinopathy of Prematurity
- Surviving Sepsis Campaign: Initial Resuscitation for Sepsis and Septic Shock [Job Aide]
- World Federation of Society of Anesthesiologists: Oxygen Therapy with Limited Resources in cOVID-19 SARI and Pneumonia
- Directorate of Medical & Health Services, Uttar Pradesh: Medical Oxygen Policy for District Hospitals
OXYGEN SAFETY
PEDIATRIC
- WHO: Oxygen Therapy for Children: A Manual for Health Workers
- Open Pediatrics: Demonstration of Bubble CPAP for the Low Resource Environment [VIDEO]
- Open Pediatrics: Recognizing Respiratory Distress [VIDEO]
- Adara: The Safe Bubble CPAP Project
- WHO: Pocket book of hospital care for children 2nd Edition – Guidelines for the management of common childhood illnesses
- Oxygen Administration in Infants [Journal Article]
- Performance of the Silverman Anderson Respiratory Severity Score in Predicting PCO2 and Respiratory Support in Newborns: A Prospective Cohort Study [Journal Article]
- PATH: Reprocessing Guidelines for Basic Neonatal Resuscitation Equipment in Resource-Limited Settings
- PATH: Reprocessing Neonatal Resuscitation Equipment [JOB AIDE]
COVID-19 SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
- WHO: Technical Specifications for Oxygen Concentrators
- WHO: Technical Specifications and Guidance for Oxygen Therapy Devices:
- Library of Resources for Oxygen Equipment Technicians:
- * A point of caution for this link: There is an example of a DIY flowmeter splitter that was mounted onto a cardboard box. The use of cardboard boxes in clinical settings is not recommended due to infection prevention protocols.
MENTAL HEALTH
- IASC: Operational considerations for multisectoral mental health and psychosocial support programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Africa CDC: Guidance for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for COVID-19
- MindShift: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Tool
- Zambia Anesthesia Development Program: COVID-19 Psychosocial Considerations
- Academy of Medical Royal Colleges: Mental Health and Well-being for Healthcare Professionals
- Intensive Care Society: Well-being Resource Library
- British Medical Association: Mental Well-being Charter
- Center for Mental Health and Addiction: Resource for Health Workers – Your Mental Health and Self-Care
PPE — GENERAL
- WHO: Save Lives – Clean your hands in the context of COVID-19
- WHO: Guide to Local Production – WHO-recommended handrub formulations
- WHO: Cleaning and Disinfection of Environmental Surfaces in the Context of COVID-19
- World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists: Table of Options for Temporary Measures due to Shortage of PPE (Masks, Respirators, Gowns, Goggles, Face Shields):
- WHO: Steps to put on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including gown
- WHO: Steps to take off personal protective equipment (PPE) including gown
- CDC: How to Safely Put on PPE, Selected Equipment: N95 and Gown [VIDEO]
PPE – INFECTION & CONTROL
DO IT YOURSELF PPE
CONSERVATION AND EXTENDED USE OF PPE
- WHO: Rational Use of Personal Protective Equipment for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and Considerations during Severe Shortages
- Partners in Health: PPE Conservation Strategies
- Centre for Evidence Based Medicine: Extended Use or Re-use of Single-User Surgical Masks and Filtering Facepiece Respirators – A Rapid Evidence Review
- World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists: Low-Cost Solutions to Create or Extend the Use of PPE
LIFEBOX RESOURCES ON N95 DECONTAMINATION & REUSE
- LifeBox: Example Guide to Beginning N95 Decontamination and Re-Use
- LifeBox: N95 Respirator Emergency Decontamination – Return to Pool vs. Return to Original User
- LifeBox: Donning and Doffing
- LifeBox: Decon or Dispose?
- Lifebox: Unsuitable Decontamination Methods
- LifeBox: Hydrogen Peroxide Decontamination Methods
- LifeBox: Heat and Humidity Decontamination Methods:
- LifeBox: Time – Considerations for Room Temperature Decontamination
RESOURCE PLANNING — GENERAL
- COVID-19 Health System Response Monitor
- International Association of National Public Health Institutes:COVID-19 Resources for Global Public Health Professionals
- WHO: COVID-19 Essential Supplies Forecasting Tool
- WHO – Emergency Global Supply Chain System Catalogue
- WHO: Surge Calculator for supplies, diagnostics, equipment requirements, and healthcare workforce requirements
- WHO: Rapid Hospital Readiness Checklist – Interim Guidance
- WHO: Harmonized Health Service Capacity Assessments in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic
- CHEST: Surge Priority Planning COVID-19 – Critical Care Considerations
- WHO: Maintaining a safe and adequate blood supply during the pandemic outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
- Fair Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources in the Time of COVID-19 [Journal Article]
- PAHO: Prehospital Emergency Medical Services and COVID-19
- African Medical Supplies Platform: African and Global Base of vetted manufacturers for procurement of certified medical equipment such as diagnostic kits, PPE and clinical management devices in response to COVID-19:
- WHO: Needs Assessment and Evaluation Form for Essential Emergency Equipment in the Emergency Room
- WHO: Biomedical Inventory Equipment Tool
- WHO: Essential Resource Planning (Equipment)
- WHO: Essential Emergency Equipment List and Essential Needs Assessment
RESOURCE PLANNING – OXYGEN THERAPY
- PATH – Oxygen Delivery Toolkit: Quantification and Costing Tools for Oxygen Therapy
- Center for Global Development: COVID-19 and Oxygen: Selecting Supply Options in LMICs that Balance Immediate Needs with Long-Term Cost-Effectiveness
- UNICEF – Oxygen System Planning Tool
- WHO Interim Guidance: Oxygen Sources and Distribution for COVID-19 Treatment Centres
- Every Breath Counts: List of Pulse Oximetry, Oxygen and Related Technical Support Partners in Africa and South Asia
- LifeBox: Obtaining a Pulse Oximeter from LifeBox
Oxygen Consumption Calculators to help determine your facility’s oxygen needs:
RESEARCH UPDATES
- JAMA Network – COVID-19 Updates
- John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health:2019 Novel Coronavirus Research Compendium:
- WHO: Evidence Collaborative on COVID-19 Network
- Cochrane Special Collection: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Evidence Relevant to Critical Care
- Cochrane: COVID-NMA: Evidence Profiles of Drug Treatments for COVID-19 and Living Evidence Map and Network of Meta-Analyses
- The Lancet: COVID-19 Resource Centre
- Evidence-AID: Evidence Collection of plain-language summaries of high-quality research (available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Chinese)
- University of Edinburgh: Usher Institute UNCOVER: Usher Network for COVID-19 Evidence Reviews – A Comprehensive Global Register of Completed COVID-19 Evidence Reviews
Where will your donation go?
To purchase essential medical equipment, provide oxygen therapy and train on the ground healthcare workers in highly affected areas.
To help supply essential and practical resources into the hands of families that are most vulnerable right here within our local community.
To provide vulnerable children with basic needs such as food, water, and soap as well as support our partners who house and care for them.
Assist International is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization since 1990 (ID: 77-0243475). All donations are tax-deductible where allowed by law.
Donate By Check
Donations via check or money order may be given by mail. Please make donations payable to “Assist International” and indicate any designations on the memo line.
Assist International
800 S Stockton Ave
Ripon, CA 95366
Donate By Phone
Call (209) 599-1890 to make a donation by phone. Someone from our team will assist you and answer any questions you may have about your donation.
Financial Accountability
97% of every donation goes directly into our programs that address the needs of the world’s vulnerable people. We value the trust you have placed in our organization, and we strive for the highest financial accountability ratings.
