Code Masks: Los Angeles Hospitals/First Responders

The COVID-19 pandemic has seemingly upended our lives and economy overnight. There is no foreseeable end on the horizon and with each day, the pandemic appears to be worsening. Across the globe, we have seen healthcare workers sacrifice their safety, time and sometimes even their lives to treat patients. Medical professionals and hospital administrators identified one of their greatest needs is masks. Without the proper personal protection equipment (PPE), we are putting healthcare workers' lives at risk. Hospital workers and first responders are forced to reuse masks and in some cases, ineffective homemade masks. We have started this fundraising campaign "Code Masks" to secure 3M NIOSH certified N95 Masks to healthcare workers and first responders who need it the most. Help us protect the workers who are treating our sick and loved ones.

What does Code Masks mean?
Often, in the hospitals, we use the term "Code". For example, when a Code Blue is called on the intercom in the hospital it means there is a patient in cardiopulmonary arrest. The response to this code is swift and there is a team of healthcare workers that run to the patient immediately and work to save the patient. Often times, healthcare workers come from different parts of the hospital with one goal in mind, to save a life. This is what we hope to inspire with our Code Masks campaign. We hope our community answers the call with one goal in mind, to help protect healthcare workers and first responders. Code Masks is a call to action to save lives.

OUR GOAL

Our goal is to acquire, distribute, and deliver over 10,000 masks to hospitals in the Los Angeles region and the Los Angeles Fire Department with the help of your donations!

OUR STORY

Jonathan Tom and Fiona Chai are currently third-year medical students in Southern California. When we decided to create the fundraising campaign "Code Masks", we wanted to provide an outlet that was transparent, efficient and most importantly impactful. During this process, we realized that there are hundreds to thousands of people that want to be involved in giving back during the COVID-19 pandemic but did not have a proper outlet. We're hoping Code Masks can become that.  We believe that with your help, we can bring together different communities to protect our healthcare workers and first responders.

Update: The campaign has become more personal for Jonathan, as his brother (a firefighter in Los Angeles), tested positive for COVD-19. Jonathan's family has experienced the stress and uncertainty that this virus brings with it. With this, we hope Code Masks will prevent other families from experiencing this uncertainty and worry about their loved ones.

WHO WE ARE
Jonathan Tom is a third-year medical student at Western University of Health Sciences. Jonathan graduated from the University of Southern California. Fight on. Fiona Chai is a third-year medical student at Western University of Health Sciences. Fiona graduated from the University of Florida. Go Gators! Jonathan and Fiona are engaged and set to get married in May 2021.

PARTNERS
The Golden Marrow
Operation Be Kind

Sponsors
Balanced Living, A Home Health Agency Inc.
Transitions Hospice
Boba Bear
Jake Choi - ABC's "Miggy Park" on Single Parents
JenniferDawn.Home.Blog
Kappa Phi Lambda Alumnae - Tampa bay

(Interested parties can email [email redacted] with the subject line "Sponsorship".

Team Members
- Derek Kono is a third-year medical student at Western University of Health Sciences. Derek graduated from the University of Southern California. Fight On!
- Tochi Madu is a third-year medical student at Keck School of Medicine of USC. Tochi graduated from the University of Southern California. Fight on!
- Cyrus Mohrdar is a third-year medical student at Western University of Health Sciences. Cyrus graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. After medical school, Cyrus intends to go into Family Medicine.
-Ryne Jenkins & Kenneth Perry

FAQ

How will the funds be used? 
100% of the funds will go directly to facilitating the purchase and delivery of masks for healthcare workers in the Los Angeles area and first responders in the Los Angeles Fire Department.  There will be no financial benefit for anyone working under the Code Masks Campaign. 

What Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will you be providing?
There are many different types of PPE healthcare workers require. The PPE we will be providing is 3M NIOSH Approved N95 Masks. We are working with Operation Be Kind to secure medical-grade masks. They were recently featured on CBS News and Spectrum News in Los Angeles.

https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/orange-county/health/2020/04/03/coronavirus-masks--operation-be-kind-purchases-100k-masks?fbclid=IwAR0KbVjCK63rlXRYotY635IE8koZVHWjaGP4ZRTFkahF4u3P6BMsHiQd79Y


Why cant the hospitals just order the masks themselves? 
It is a fair point to want hospitals to pay for their own masks.  However, as with many large corporations or businesses, there is a process and system in place. Gaining approval and access to funds is time-consuming. Time is against us. Code Masks is here to work swiftly to get the masks to healthcare workers and first responders. Saving lives is all that matters to us.

Are donations tax-deductible? 
Currently, donations are not tax-deductible.

If you are a member of the press or would like to connect us with a member of the press, you can e-mail us with a subject headline “Press Contact” to [email redacted]

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Instagram: @CodeMasks
Share our story using the Hashtag #CodeMasks