If you can, please donate any PPE (Positive Protective Equipment) - masks, respirators, protective gowns/shielding, gloves, goggles, etc to a hospital near you!
I'm sure you've been hearing this a lot lately, but can't stress it enough. The shortages are significant and widespread.
For anyone in the B/CS area, I can tell you this is a concern here right now (my wife and I are both physicians in town). Virus hasn't hit yet, but expect it to likely happen sometime soon IMO.
With regards to PPE, we are not well prepared. Fortunately, I'm not on the "front lines" but my wife, as an Anesthesiologist, is putting herself at significant risk anytime performing airway management on potential COVID patients (or even silent carriers). Likewise, this is especially concerning for those managing airways in confirmed COVID positive patients in ER/ICU, etc.
Equipment shortages play a large role in the decision by hospitals to halt all "elective" surgical cases and procedures for now (also an order issued by Gov. Abbott today, if you missed it). We simply don't have adequate supplies of PPE to protect our providers if a surge of COVID cases occurs.
We also don't have a backup supply of doctors/nurses (especially Critical Care Specialists), so keeping them healthy is essential. Trust me, you probably don't want me getting called to come in and treat you while in respiratory failure in the ICU. I would gladly step up to help but, honestly, the future is bleak at that point.
Please spread the word and donate if you can. Can't tell you how much those on the front lines appreciate the support.
Please PM me if you can help.
I'm sure you've been hearing this a lot lately, but can't stress it enough. The shortages are significant and widespread.
For anyone in the B/CS area, I can tell you this is a concern here right now (my wife and I are both physicians in town). Virus hasn't hit yet, but expect it to likely happen sometime soon IMO.
With regards to PPE, we are not well prepared. Fortunately, I'm not on the "front lines" but my wife, as an Anesthesiologist, is putting herself at significant risk anytime performing airway management on potential COVID patients (or even silent carriers). Likewise, this is especially concerning for those managing airways in confirmed COVID positive patients in ER/ICU, etc.
Equipment shortages play a large role in the decision by hospitals to halt all "elective" surgical cases and procedures for now (also an order issued by Gov. Abbott today, if you missed it). We simply don't have adequate supplies of PPE to protect our providers if a surge of COVID cases occurs.
We also don't have a backup supply of doctors/nurses (especially Critical Care Specialists), so keeping them healthy is essential. Trust me, you probably don't want me getting called to come in and treat you while in respiratory failure in the ICU. I would gladly step up to help but, honestly, the future is bleak at that point.
Please spread the word and donate if you can. Can't tell you how much those on the front lines appreciate the support.
Please PM me if you can help.
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