For EMS professionals, infection control isn’t a line item on a checklist – it’s a constant presence. It’s woven into every patient contact, every piece of equipment and every moment spent inside the rig. Yet many of the products designed to protect providers come with tradeoffs: harsh effects on skin, safety concerns if misused or impractical application during high-tempo shifts.
My-Shield, a disinfecting system built around a proprietary technology called Zetrisil, was developed to address many of those challenges. What makes it stand apart isn’t just the chemistry – it’s the unlikely environment where it originated.
As lead developer Bruce Smyth explains, My-Shield’s roots lie not in healthcare or commercial cleaning, but in humanitarian disaster relief work across the Middle East and North Africa.
“We were developing disaster-relief food growth chambers that used effluent from camps to irrigate legumes,” Smyth said. “It was a way to both process waste and feed displaced populations. But during the process, we realized we’d created an environment that was just as effective at growing bacteria and mold. That’s when we began looking for an environmentally friendly solution – and that’s where Zetrisil began.”
In crisis zones, sanitation tools must be safe, non-leaching and effective across a wide range of surfaces – qualities that translate naturally into EMS environments.
A disinfectant designed with safety first
Safety has remained a core design principle across the My-Shield product line – not only for the providers using it, but for the environment as well.
“Every My-Shield product was designed to be safe, non-leaching and environmentally responsible,” Smyth said. “Most importantly, they’re built to reduce bacterial and viral loading in the surrounding atmosphere.”
The product portfolio includes hand sprays, soaps, wipes, foams and surface disinfectants designed for healthcare and other high-risk environments. One of the company’s earliest disinfectants is certified for use on both Boeing and Airbus passenger and cargo aircraft – a demanding benchmark for enclosed, mobile spaces.
“That’s one of the highest safety standards you can meet for a disinfectant,” Smyth said.
Unlike many traditional disinfectants, My-Shield solutions are nonflammable – a critical advantage for EMS crews working around oxygen, fuel and ignition sources. The formulations are also non-corrosive and gentle on skin and eyes, reducing risk during frequent daily use.
Zetrisil: The science in plain terms
While the chemistry behind Zetrisil is complex, its function is straightforward: enhance safety by reducing microbial burden over time.
The name reflects how it works:
- “Zeta” refers to magnetic attraction – drawing bacteria to treated surfaces.
- “Tri” represents its three-path antimicrobial action.
- “Sil” denotes silicon, which stabilizes the solution and improves surface interaction.
Rather than providing a brief, single-use effect, My-Shield products are designed to offer ongoing protection with repeated application. For EMS providers who glove up quickly between calls, that means improved coverage over time – even if a single application misses a spot.
Built for the EMS workflow
Effectiveness means little without usability. EMS shifts rarely allow for multi-step cleaning protocols or long drying times. My-Shield products are available in multiple formats – sprays, wipes and foams – allowing crews to disinfect equipment, compartments and high-touch surfaces quickly and without harsh fumes or residue.
A silicon-based ingredient also helps with glove donning, reducing friction when seconds matter.
Many alcohol-based sanitizers leave hands dry, cracked or irritated – conditions that can increase infection risk and slow provider performance. Smyth notes that in hospital trials, nursing stations frequently competed for My-Shield supplies simply because staff preferred how it felt on their skin.
A global track record
While My-Shield is gaining momentum in the United States – with more than 100 agencies using the products daily – its reach is global.
EMS and emergency fleets in Abu Dhabi, Namibia and South Africa routinely rely on My-Shield. The product was also used by Doctors Without Borders during the Ebola response, where its non-leaching, nonflammable profile was critical in reducing healthcare worker exposure.
More recently, My-Shield has become part of a public health initiative with Tourism Africa aimed at preventing disease transmission between visitors and isolated indigenous communities.
“In situations like these, safety and reliability aren’t optional,” Smyth said. “That’s why My-Shield is often the product of choice.”
If its global adoption is any indication, My-Shield may represent a meaningful shift in how EMS agencies approach infection control – a shift that began far from the back of an ambulance but continues to protect providers on every call.
For more information, visit Compliant Technologies.
