Hospitals need PPE help now!

[NorcalGSG]

Due to circumstances, the hospitals are desperately in need of PPE for healthcare workers trying to help victims of this terrible virus. Please, anyone with a body shop or construction company, college, farm, home garage, any n95 masks, gowns, gloves, dust masks, please collect what you have and get it to your town hospital/healthcare workers so they can stay in the fight. This is a battle right now and we need to bridge the gap left by an explosive spread and insufficient inventory levels kept onhand in many places.
Most businesses are closed now, and when they reopen new stuff will be available but nurses and doctors and cleaning staff need protection NOW!!!!!!!
And please, everyone wear at least a dust mask or cloth over your mouth when grocery shopping etc. With the long incubation period, people are spreading this virus for 2-3 weeks before even showing symptoms. It's not about you, it's about EVERYONE right now!!!!

[Blownmotor]

Try telling that to all the mainland Chinese that hoarded the PPE.

[tsmithson]

I started blowing that whistle almost a month ago. I’m done taking all the flack. Good luck.

[Creampuff]

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/artic...s-15150026.php

Due to circumstances, the hospitals are desperately in need of PPE for healthcare workers trying to help victims of this terrible virus. Please, anyone with a body shop or construction company, college, farm, home garage, any n95 masks, gowns, gloves, dust masks, please collect what you have and get it to your town hospital/healthcare workers so they can stay in the fight. This is a battle right now and we need to bridge the gap left by an explosive spread and insufficient inventory levels kept onhand in many places.
Most businesses are closed now, and when they reopen new stuff will be available but nurses and doctors and cleaning staff need protection NOW!!!!!!!
And please, everyone wear at least a dust mask or cloth over your mouth when grocery shopping etc. With the long incubation period, people are spreading this virus for 2-3 weeks before even showing symptoms. It's not about you, it's about EVERYONE right now!!!!

Edited my comments because looks like some hospitals are taking donations.

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/UC-San-Francisco-mask-donation-sites-gloves-15150026.php

[TheGood]

OSHA (or FDA) recently waived the N-95 certification requirement for use at med facilities. Most of the reason for N-95 medical grade was for sterility certification.

I would offer masks of any type (painters, etc) if you have a surplus.

[tsmithson]

I can't speak for every hospital, but where I work I'd be reluctant to use a mask brought in from the community, because while the intent was very well meaning, there is no quality assurance of what the mask went through before it came in. The other thing I would have to be careful about is, if I were to become Covid19 positive, but I was using non-hospital approved masks I don't know how that would fly with employee health. (given the unusual circumstances we are in, I would think employee health would understand?)

The best thing consumers can do, is buy what you need and don't hoard. Plus one thing the news isn't addressing but those who work the hospitals know, STOP stealing masks. You know who you are, and I am referring to people who work in the hospitals.

There are some front line people putting their livelihood on the line, and then there are those who steal, either in materials, or those who forgot what we vowed to do when we started this line of work, and instead are getting doctor's excuses. And then under false pretenses are getting out of work and getting 128 hours of pay. Those people sicken me too. And you also know who you are! Both scenarios, that is stealing. Sorry rant off...

Back to the topic, I would call in advance before you donate masks to a hospital and see what their policy is.

[NorcalGSG]

Creampuff I agree with you, but in these circumstances, what if your hospital didn't provide you with a mask because the CDC said all you needed was a handkerchief. Would you rock that into a hot zone if you had a "non-employer supplied" N95 instead?

[lp3056]

Got an email from Harbor Frieght tonight that read.

hospitalhelp@harborfreight.com

[elSquid]

Probably should call your local hospital first, before showing up with an armload of masks. You probably don't want to add to the workload of the boots on the ground, who are actively trying to have people stay away right now.

My guess is that hospitals buy masks from medical distributors - who probably are highest on the food chain right now for new production - so the question of a lack of stock for local retailers is probably not relevant.

-- Michael

[Sig556swat]

I got plentY ...... FOR SALE

[Medics197]

[Cali-Glock]

I love the photos of people wearing N-95 masks with exhalation valves. Great for the wearer, not great for anyone else in case the wearer is a carrier.

[August]

Got an email from Harbor Frieght tonight that read.

No super coupon offered?

[DrjonesUSA]

[DrjonesUSA]

Maybe this situation will teach hospitals a lesson about having switched to JIT inventory, eh?