Rescue NYC: N95 reusable masks for ER providers

As one of the many health care professionals on the front lines in New York City, I can tell you that each day when I walk into the ER, I am not sure how it’s going to play out: 

What will be today’s policy regarding getting a set of personal protective equipment (PPE)? 

Will there be enough? To what extent will I be exposed, then how many will I contaminate as I get gas/food/see non-COVID patient?... 

These and many more questions like it are racing through my head every time as I try get enough sleep before my next shift. New York City ER staff need your help. There are already many shortages of all types of PPE; the most important piece of PPE, the one thing we cannot do our jobs without, are N95 masks. Pre-COVID 19, we used N95 masks as single use, single patient equipment. We used a new one every time for each patient encounter, even if it was to see the same patient a second time. That was as recent as March 1, 2020. Now we are grateful for one N95 mask to use for a whole 12-hour shift! 

We need your help to buy a type of reusable N95 mask that comes with enough replaceable filters so that it can be used for several shifts. Our goal is to put these masks in the hands of each and every person who works in a New York City ER, regardless of whether they are performing an emergent procedure or cleaning the floors. Filling the gaps when resources are scarce buys time, time for even the best ED administrators to appropriately replenish its supplies to keep us all safe. The fight against COVID is here longer than we anticipated and these reusable masks can serve as back up to be used again and again to keep us afloat when supplies become scarce and scheduled shipments are delayed. 

Unlike many of us, I have been very fortunate to work at an institution that has remained adequately stocked even at the peak of the disease, but our fight is not over. Acting today will save a life tomorrow!

The point is we need a backup so we can safely take care of all patients everyday, every shift, every time.  One mask with 10  filters is $120. Supplying all ER workers in New York City with this mask is our goal. Please help!

We are working with Emergency Aid USA Inc. (a Queens based nonprofit) to purchase and deliver masks to hospitals across NYC.  Check us out at eausa.org 

https://medium.com/@CynicalXennial/unmasking-the-truth-cdc-and-hospital-administrators-are-endangering-us-all-b601012f81be