Partners call for protective equipment
Municipal and health partners in Simcoe and Muskoka, including the County of Simcoe, the District of Muskoka, and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, are working together to launch a donation campaign for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and critical supplies that are essential for the provision of safe medical and community care to patients and residents.
Health and emergency services, such as paramedicine, long-term care, home and community care, hospitals and public health, have been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak and have dramatically increased their use of PPE to protect residents, patients and health care workers. To counteract this rapid increase in demand for medical supplies and equipment, health partners are working collaboratively to implement a donation campaign to leverage strong local business and community ties and utilize all available stock within the community.
Partners are looking for donations of: N95 masks, surgical masks, face shields, protective goggles or safety glasses, Nitrile gloves (latex-free), reusable or disposable gowns, medical thermometers, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes with a DIN# or bleach cleaner, and hand soap.
Any businesses or community members looking to donate items can e-mail EmergencyManagement@smdhu.orgemail. Information about how and where to send donations is available at www.smdhu.org/donationsopen_in_new. All donations received will be collected in central depots in Simcoe and Muskoka and will be issued to local health care providers in order of priority, as determined by the Province of Ontario. Pick-up or delivery can be arranged. Businesses supplying goods for purchase can also reach out to individual partners.
Trina Berlo photo: Mike Bennett is answering the call for donations of much needed personal protective equipment for healthcare workers. He happened to have on hand this Emergency Infection Control Kit, containing 500 ear-loop masks, plus gloves, gowns, eye protection and sanitizer. He has passed the kit on to healthcare workers.
